WASHINGTON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 05:39:42 :

Independent Journal
Saturday, April 3, 1965
Page 1

Mrs. Washington
Peaceful Death Comes At 104

Marin City’s Mrs. Catherine Washington, who celebrated her 104th birthday a month ago, died at 11:45 p.m. yesterday in a Novato convalescent hospital.

She had been taken to a hospital March 18 after her health declined. Five days later, she went to the Novato home, where her death came peacefully last night.

Born on a farm in Maryland on March 1, 1861, she lived in Baltimore until she was 15, then went to New York City. Both her parents were slaves.

Her husband, George James Washington, a Methodist minister, died 56 years ago. He and she spent 22 years in Africa as missionaries.

In Ethiopia, they bought a little girl for $2.50. They named her Juanita and adopted her. Mrs. Washington also gave birth to three sons and three daughters. They have all died, and Juanita, now in Europe, is her only known survivor.

Moving to California in 1932, Mrs. Washington came to Marin two years later. She lived in San Rafael for 13 years, and had lived in Marin City the past eight years.

Most of her adult life was spent as a housekeeper. At the age of 92, she decided it was time to retire. Living alone at her 8 Cole Drive apartment, she resisted efforts to have her go to a rest home.

“When I feel that I can’t do anything for myself,” she told her doctor one day, “I’ll ring up and tell you.”

Her greatest wish on her last birthday was to have a calendar with large enough numbers for her declining eyes to see them. She soon received a dozen such calendars.

Funeral services are pending at the Russell and Gooch Mortuary, Mill Valley.

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Independent Journal
Monday, April 5, 1965
Page 4

Mrs. Washington

Funeral for Mrs. Catherine Washington, 104, of Marin City, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 501 Drake Avenue, Marin City.

Mrs. Washington died Friday in a convalescent hospital.

Interment will be in Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael. Contributions to the Marin City Church of God are preferred. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Russell and Gooch Mortuary, Mill Valley.