Obituary of Julia A Kersey

Julia A. (Gregory) Kersey “Retired Social Worker and Community Activist” Julia A. (Gregory) Kersey was born at home in (Collinsville) Morris Township, NJ on Wednesday April 1, 1925 to the late Ferdinand and Ella (Richardson) Gregory. Julia was a lifelong resident of Morristown and ended her life’s’ journey on Thursday July 7, 2011 at Morristown Medical Center. Julia was educated in the Morris School District, and graduated from Morristown High School in the Class of 1944. Julia devoted her adult life to the betterment of her fellow citizens. Julia had a long history with the Morris County Urban League working there as a Social Worker for 29 years until her retirement in 1996. During her tenure with the league, she held numerous capacities, serving as its liaison to the Morris School District and the Districts liaison to the parents of minority students, also serving as the director of Social Services. She founded with the late Jane Edwards the “URFAM” project, an outreach to parents of school-aged children and co-founded the Pocahontas Day Care Center. Although she retired from the Urban League in 1996, she continued to work for 12 years for the National Council on Aging at “New Beginnings”, Morristown’s former substance abuse rehabilitation center, and at the Morristown Senior Center. Julia served on the boards of the Girl Scouts of Morris County, the Morris County Guidance Center, the Child Placement Review Board, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Morristown Municipal Welfare Board, the Fair Housing Council of Morris County, the Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward, Morristown Community Development Corporation, and the Legal Aid Society. She was most recently a Commissioner on the Morristown Housing Authority where she served as vice-chairman of the board, a member of the Carettes Inc. of Morris County for the past 38 years, a member of Union Baptist Church Senior’s Ministry, and had been a member of St. Margaret’s Church since 1961 where she regularly attended Sunday Mass, and Thursday Night Bible Study. Aside from her long work history and involvement in the community, Julia enjoyed her family and friends and doing things that interested her. She was an avid reader frequenting the library at least twice a week, she loved mystery and romance novels. Julia enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, watching CNN, and debating political issues during her spare time. She was married to the late James B. Kersey Sr. who predeceased her in 1979. Her eight siblings: Viola, Douglas, Josephine, Carroll, Eleanor, Mary Ella, James, and John also predeceased her. She leaves to cherish her memory three children James Jr. , Jeffrey, and Patricia Kersey all of Morristown, two grandchildren Jeffrey Jr. of Maryland, and Warren Kersey of Morristown, and one great-granddaughter Kyra J. Cobbs-Kersey of Morristown and a host of niece’s nephews, and cousins . She also leaves behind DeFlange Clark who she saw as her second daughter and a very close friend for many years Mrs. Nadine Alston both of Morristown. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday July 13, 2011 at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 6 Sussex Ave. Morristown (973-538-0874) at 11:00AM. Visitation at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (Tuttlefh.com) from 7:00PM - 9:00PM on Tuesday July 12, 2011. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory to Carettes Inc. Morris County, P.O. Box 2203, Morristown, NJ 07960 or Morris County Urban League, 300 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.