Malinda Kate Gilbert Ellerbe
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Published in The Washington Post on Mar. 12, 2021.
Malinda Kate Gilbert Ellerbe
Departed this life Sunday, February 28, 2021.
She was born March 3, 1937 in Pittsylvania County, Hurt,
Virginia, the seventh of eight children of Deacon Enoch
and Victoria Cook Gilbert.
Her family moved to Washington, DC when she was a
small child and settled in Barry Farms Housing Project where she grew up.
After Victoria's death, Malinda was reared by Enoch and Eliza Miles Gilbert.
Malinda was preceded in death by three sisters: Mae Nicholson, Lucy Alexander, and
Hazel Booth; her husband, Leonard Ellerbe, Sr.; and her stepson, Darnell Ellerbe.
She is survived by her beloved son, Lennel Gilbert, and his wife and daughter, Karen and
Malaysia, all of Frederick, Maryland; one sister, Mabel Wells of Richmond, Virginia; and
four brothers: Enoch Cook Gilbert, Lynn Wade Gilbert, and David Christopher Gilbert, all
of Washington, DC; and Larry Thomas Gilbert of Las Vegas, Nevada, the son of Enoch
and Eliza Gilbert.
Malinda was educated in District of Columbia Public Schools and graduated from
Cardozo High School (1955) in Washington, DC.
She was employed by the District of Columbia Government, Department of Health.
Since her childhood Malinda was a faithful servant of Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
in Anacostia, Washington, DC, where she served in many capacities. Singing was one of
Malinda's greatest joys. Malinda was the devoted mother of Lennel Gilbert and after
marriage to Leonard Ellerbe Sr., became the devoted stepmother of Leonard Jr. and
Darnell. Malinda was also loving grandmother to Darnell's two children, Tashayla and
Darnell, Jr. Malinda was a loving, kind, and gentle person whose company was desired
by many. She never met a stranger, and her smile and personality were a joy to behold.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at Matthews Memorial
Baptist Church, 2616 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE., Washington, DC.
The viewing is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A private family service will follow at 12 p.m.
.