Claudette Gilchrist

July 27, 1933 - August 18, 2020

Conway, SC......Claudette Gilchrist (née Oliver) age 87 of Conway, South Carolina passed on August 18, 2020 surrounded by her family. She was born July 27th, 1933 to Charles Hume Ollivierre and Rebecca Webb Gooding in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. She was the youngest of 3 girls with her older sisters Marilyn Esposito and Laurel Dodd having predeceased her. She was raised in the Little Italy section of East Harlem. She attended Central Commercial High School graduating in 1951. On vacation with a few of her girlfriends in Miami Beach in 1954 she had a chance encounter while stopped at a red light. The car that pulled up next to her was driven by her future husband of 65 years, Charles Gilchrist. They were married on July 30, 1955 in St. Lucy's Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan, New York. They resided in Kew Gardens, Queens where their eldest daughter Lauren (Tim Burney) was born in 1956. They moved to Hicksville, New York in 1958 where they lived for the next 30 years and where they welcomed three more children, Lynne, Leigh and Scott (Diane). Claudette was employed as a secretary in the English Department at the State University of Old Westbury where she retired in 1988. The years following were filled with visits from her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews along with spending time with friends and traveling. She volunteered at Conway Medical Center for over 20 years wanting to give back to her community. Claudette was passionate about her family. She was blessed with 11 Grandchildren (Ryan, Ashley, Alexandra, Danielle, Jordan, Brent, Sean, Eric, Erin, Ryleigh and Rebecca), four Great Grandchildren (Zofia, Rowan, Raelynn and Barrett) and many nieces and nephews that she adored. She loved the ocean and beach and enjoyed when the grandchildren would visit taking them to it. She loved to sing, had a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh. She truly had a compassionate heart and she has left an indelible imprint on those that knew her. She will be greatly missed. Due to Covid 19 concerns and restrictions, services will be private. Contact the family for funeral details. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00PM until 1:45 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2020. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.