Ethel Bell Florence Wilkins, daughter of the late Russell Florence, Sr. and Cora Williams Florence, was born on March 27, 1938, in Mitchell County, Georgia.  She passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 26, 2024, with family.  She was 86 years old.

She attended and graduated from Rockdale High School in Camilla, Georgia and moved to New York before settling in Trenton, New Jersey where she made a good life and home for herself.  She was employed by Princeton Hospital, she started out as a Candy Stripper and worked her way up the ladder and promoted to the Office of Administration before retiring with 30 years of service.

Ethel had a self-sacrificing spirit and great love for her family and made many sacrifices, for our benefit and well-being, always putting our needs before her own.  She was truly a matriarch, rock and glue for her family.  Ethel had a passion for researching her genealogy and tracing her roots as far back as she could go.  Knowing our history and who we are was very important to her.  She also took pride in her community and teaching anyone who would listen about our culture and accomplishments that helped to shape us, and the world, in a positive way.  She had a green thumb when it came to gardening and passed it on to her two daughters.  She was also a great cook and baker.

She was united in marriage "as she would say to her husband-of-a-lifetime" Alijah Marcel Wilkins, who preceded her in death on March 9, 2013.

She was also preceded in death by six brothers, Aaron, Abraham, David, Jimmy, John Henry and Russell Florence, Jr., two sisters, Jeanette Florence and Mollie Bush.

Ethel is survived by her children, Gary Mills of Georgia, Alijah Marcel "Nookie" Reaves, Carolynn T. James (husband John) and Lisa M. Toro (husband Anthony) all of New Jersey; two sisters, Emma Estrivene of Georgia, Annette Sweet of Florida; one brother, Cecil Florence (wife Voncille) of Georgia.  Grandchildren, Keith Laster, Aljah Saddler, Dominick Reaves, Antonio Toro (wife Stephanie), Marcus Toro, Ashley Toro, Taylar Lee and Kahlil Lee; two great grandchildren, Alijah Stefan Toro and Jeriyah Toro all of New Jersey; one brother-in-law, Eddie J. Wilkins, Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Elven C. Murphy and Janet Stove Florence of New Jersey; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A special mention of those for whom she was more than an aunt or cousin:  Little John Florence, Jr., Stafford Florence, Lolita Florence, Belinda "Lin" Florence-Paganafanador, Valerie Johnson, and the Blackshir family.

Her dear friends who were always in her corner:  Sally Hicks, Bernice Ruth Wright, Edna Gage, Ronette Jones, Doris Mason-Griffin, James, Ruby and Robin, the Ross family.