Elizabeth W. Hubbard

Elizabeth Wadensa (nee Grimes) Hubbard of Buffalo, NY, was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1938, to Fred V. and Ethel Barber Grimes.  She was a native daughter of Wilkesboro, NC. She peacefully departed this life on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in Buffalo, NY.  

She was a 1956 graduate of the historic Lincoln Heights Rosenwald High School in Wilkesboro, NC, which was built in 1924 by Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute, and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald of Sears, Roebuck and Company, specifically for African- American children.  Elizabeth moved to New York City, with her oldest sister after graduation, where she went to school to become a certified keypunch operator.  She was an excellent typist and had a talent for precisely entering codes onto cards which were read by the International Business Machines (IBM)  Computer Company, in the late 1950s and 60s.

 She was married to William Thomas Hubbard, Sr. in Brooklyn NY, in 1959 and to this union three beautiful children were born; Rita Sylvia, William Thomas Jr. and Dawn Cherelle. Though later divorced, Elizabeth lovingly raised her three children in a modest home in Queens, NY.

Liz, as she was affectionately called, was primarily a homemaker, while her children were small.  As they grew older, she resumed her career and worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance company, Ideal Toy Company, and the US Postal Service. She also worked for New York State Off Track Betting in New York City.

Liz moved to Buffalo to be close to her growing family in 1998. She worked part-time at Macy’s, JC Penney’s and Canisius College. She was community- minded, and volunteered at the Langston Hughes Institute, Kleinhan’s Music Hall, The Salvation Army, and Sister’s Hospital, as she moved further into her retirement years. She believed in making good use of her time and  lifelong learning, so she went back to school to take computer classes at the Erie Community College One- Stop Career Center, while she was in her 70s.

A lady of style and grace, Liz loved the Lord. She was a devoted member of Central Park United Methodist Church, where she served in the choir as a soprano for over 25 years.

She enjoyed crocheting, word puzzles, shopping, and watching old movies and programs on TCM and PBS.  She was a family person and loved to celebrate birthdays with the whole family… but, only on the day of birth of the family member!  Recently, the  LORD blessed her and her family to enjoy  a wonderful celebration of her birthday, on her birthday, and in the new home of her daughter Dawn.

Elizabeth is preceded in death by eight of her 9 siblings, and her only son William “Billy” T. Hubbard, Jr.  She leaves to cherish memory, her sister Reba S. Williams (Charles,dec,) of Watertown, NY, her loving daughters Rita Hubbard-Robinson (Mark) of Buffalo, and Dawn C. Hunter (Robert) of Cheektowaga, NY, her grandchildren, Jason E. Robinson, Sr (Stephanie), Journée Robinson, Taylor Hunter and Miles Hunter, her great-grand children, Sophia and Jason, Jr. and a host of loving cousins, nieces and nephews, who reside all around the world.

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