Obituary: Matawan Regional High School Hall of Fame Member Dies at 84

George Gumbs departed this life at the Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, New Jersey, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, to enter into eternal life.

He was the eighth child of nine of Edith Richardson and Nathan Gumbs. He was born May 29th, 1928 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, his parents having immigrated from Anguilla, British West Indies in 1912. The family worshiped at St Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Cliffwood, where he served as a trustee and taught adult Sunday school. His fellowship continued at the Cathedral International in Perth Amboy New Jersey.

George Gumbs graduated from Matawan High School in 1947, where he also was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005. While at Matawan, he was a part of the Shore Championship Baseball team.

After high school, George enlisted in the Army, where he was a Staff Sargent and played in the Army band while stationed in Europe. When he returned home after being honorably discharged, he used the G.I. bill. He graduated Cum Laude from Morgan State University with a B.S. in Business Administration, and also with a Masters degree in Labor Relations from The University of Utah and he became a Certified Public Manager (CPM).

He met his soul mate Wilhelmina Brown April, 1958 and was united November 1st that same year and to this union was born a daughter, Wanda Elaine and a son, Wendell George.

He was proud of being honored by Providence Baptist Church as a Civil Service Excellence Ambassador for his work in the Department of Labor. His professional career spanned over 39 years with the N.J. Department of Labor, where he promoted through the ranks. His accomplishments. He was the 1st Administrator named to run the unemployment system in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Stateside, saw him rise from Supervisor to manager of several unemployment offices. He was promoted District Supervisor and finally Assistant Director of Labor for the State.

George was a Mason and served with Butler Lodge #42 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Cliffwood, New Jersey. He was also a member of the Cliffwood Royals Athletic League Baseball team. After his retirement, he along with his brothers and sisters built a family recreational compound (Nathan's Cove) in Anguilla, West Indies. 

George Gumbs leaves to mourn many proud family members and friends. He is survived by his devoted wife, Wilhelmina; daughter, Wanda Sims (husband, James) of Cliffwood; son, Wendell Gumbs also of Cliffwood; daughter-in-law, Lynette Simms of Burlington NJ; five grandchildren, Kian of Baltimore Md, Brianna of Atlanta Ga, Jamiel (West Chester University Pa), Kyla and Nyla of Burlington NJ and one great-grandchild, Kennedy of Baltimore Md., his sister, Gwendolyn Anthony (husband, Lester) of St Albans, N.Y.; sister-in-laws, Rachel Gumbs of Aberdeen NJ and Sadie Gumbs of Greensboro North Carolina, brothers, Kenneth Gumbs of the Bronx N.Y and Earle Gumbs (wife, Beateal) of Hillcrest Heights, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. George was predeceased by his parents, Nathan Gumbs and Edith Richardson; brothers, Nathan, Christopher, Phillip and Samuel, sister, Camelia, nephew, Lenny and niece, Joy.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 22, 2013 at the Cathedral International, 277 Madison Ave., Perth Amboy, NJ. Burial will follow at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet, NJ. Viewing will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2013, from 7 -9 pm at the church. Arrangements are by Anderson Funeral Service, New Brunswick, NJ.