Pearl Gatling, more often known as Mother Pearl" or "Mother Gatling," passed away just shy of her 102nd birthday on February 12, 2025. She was born on March 12th, 1923, in New Brunswick New Jersey to Trinidadian immigrants Charles and Mabel Hewitt. She was the youngest of three children, Cecil Hewitt and Doris Hewitt Griffin, who precede her in death. She graduated from New Brunswick High School and started a career in administration, later working as a secretary, an administrative assistant, and an office manager. During World War II she worked for the USO at Camp Kilmer where she met her husband Theodore Maurice Gatling. She worked at the Raritan Arsenal where she cleaned firearms, Middlesex County Tuberculosis League as the first Black secretary. She worked as an Office Manager for the family-owned business, the Hewitt Reality and Management company in Newark, New Jersey. She went on to work at the Presbytery of Newark as a secretary, The U.S. Envronmental Protection Agency in Raritan Center, and The National Boy Scouts of America in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Pearl and her husband Maurice Gatling were blessed with two daughters, Audrey Gatling and Carol Jean Gatling.

They moved to Metuchen in 1968, where she was a community leader, active in the school system and was one of the founders of the Black Voices of Metuchen in the 70's. She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church where she served as the first female member of the vestry and was a pillar for decades. She loved the Coffee Hour, current events, and reading the local newspapers. She was also a member of the Civil Rights Commission and other community organizations.  The Rutgers scholar and Renaissance man Paul Robeson was her hero and she used his autographed photo she received in NYC to teach us about excellence and

African American history. At the tender age of 101 years of age, Pearl was the oldest parishioner at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Pearl was a good, kind and faithful wife, mother and friend. She was very caring, loving and had a giving heart and spirit.

Mother Pearl was preceded in death by her husband Theodore Maurice. She is survived by her son, David C. Belton (Alfreda) of Charlotte, North Carolina; daughter Audrey Gatling of Metuchen, who was her faithful primary care giver until she was called home to glory; daughter Carol Jean Gatling-Holmes (Michael) of San Diego, California; granddaughters: Anika Green, Brittany Franklin (Orlando), Christin Holmes; grandson: Cameron Belton (Jamia); two great grandsons: Bentley and Caleb Belton; several nieces, nephews, and a host of loving relatives and friends.

So long for now, Mother Pearl. You have joined your parents, Charles and Mabel Hewitt, husband Maurice Gatling, sister Doris Griffin, brother Cecil Hewitt, and nephew Nolan Griffin in God's eternal embrace.

You are loved and will be greatly missed.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

To join the service via Zoom, please join the hyperlink listed below 5 minutes prior to the service starting.

https://www.youtube.com/@StLukesMetuchen/streams

Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Flynn and Son / Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840.