Valerie Lee Gilchrist

VALERIE was born on July 16, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools in Baltimore City. She loved participating in dance and spelling bee competitions. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1968. After graduation, Valerie started working at the Eastern Health Clinic in Baltimore. Later, she accepted a position in Washington, DC in the Finance Department at the White House Conference on Children and Youth. Wanting to work closer to home, she applied for and accepted a job transfer to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Baltimore, MD. She successfully moved up the agency ladder working as a Benefit Authorizer, Payment Analyst, Payment Manager, and an Information Technology Specialist in the Deputy Commissioner Office. During her career at SSA, she took numerous business training classes as well as Microsoft Computer classes. She also attended night classes at Catonsville Community College and graduated with an Associates of Arts degree in Business Administration on December 21, 1981. In 1977, Valerie met her future husband, Floyd Gilchrist in a training class at SSA. They began dating and then married on November 21, 1978. From this union they had a son, Floyd Gilchrist Jr., born on September 19, 1979. They always enjoyed taking vacations together which sometimes included traveling with their son to many different countries. Their adventures included traveling to all the Western European Countries using rental cars to drive throughout the Western European Countries, three Communist Countries, Iceland, Ireland, Poland, China, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, Hungary Budapest, Greece, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, the Republic of Fiji, Hawaiian Islands, traveling across country from the west to the east coast of Canada and traveling throughout the many USA states. As a result of Valerie’s son’s friendship with the daughter of the late Premier of New South Wales (NSW) Australia John Fahey, Valerie and Floyd met John Fahey, his wife, and his family and shared lunch. Valerie was baptized as a young girl and throughout her adult life she attended numerous churches until she found her church home at New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown in 2010. God has been very centered in her life through faith. Valerie leaves to cherish her memory: husband, Floyd Gilchrist Sr.; son, Floyd Gilchrist Jr.; stepchildren, Illya Chisolm (Nu), Karl Gilchrist (Angela); Lashawda Gilchrist; a host of grandchildren; her aunt, Juanita Dawson; a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

Tributes

Valerie Lee Gilchrist

July 16, 1949 - July 29, 2024