Soldier mom|Little Quinton big part of life after retirement

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2009

After raising four children as a single mother, a retiring soldier is basing her next career move on the well-being of a 7-year-old.

Gilda Williams, a master sergeant with the 412th Engineer Command, welcomed Quinton Brumfield to her home about two years ago when his mother was incarcerated. The child was separated from his two younger sisters, Tyhelia, 3, and Alelia, 4, who had been taken to a family friend at the time.

Although Williams, 58, went to Quinton’s aid when his only other option was foster care, she said he came along at a time she needed him most — when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C Type 1B liver disease.

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“He was more of an asset to me than he realized,” said Williams. “He gave me a reason to get up in the morning.”

Williams said she loves having Quinton around and offering him the same opportunities of a good education, learning about other cultures and travel that she gave her own children.

“He keeps me going. I have to do things I wouldn’t normally do like going to the movies, and going to the skating rink,” she said.

Since he has been with Williams, Quinton also has visited theme parks and aquariums in other states. He is a second-grader at Sherman Elementary School.

Although she looks forward to her last day of duty on Oct. 9, Williams faces a choice of being a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor with the Vicksburg Warren School District or with the New Orleans School District.

“I can’t make any decision about where I’m going without considering Quinton,” said Williams.

When her brother, Irvin Williams, who also is a friend of Quinton’s mother, first asked Williams to take care of the child, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to raise another child — especially one whose age fits within the age-range (5 to 18) of her 12 grandchildren.

“It was a change in my life. I had gotten over my ‘empty-nest syndrome,’” said Williams.

But she has grown to think of him as one of hers.

Quinton stood with Williams and her three daughters, Alicia King, 37, Arlana Brumfield, 31, Allyson Rainey, 25, and son, Alex Brumfield, 27, at her retirement ceremony Sept. 12 at the command center.

Quinton will “let you know he’s not a grand. He’s in competition with the older ones,” Williams said. “He asked Alex to be his brother.”

Having been a single parent joining the Army Reserve in 1985, she said, “The beginning wasn’t bad, I had the best support system — my mother.”

Williams’ mother took care of her children during her training.

She said their father, Sam Brumfield, was her second form of support.

During Williams’ 24-year career, she was a training ammunition manager at Fort Buchanan, Peurto Rico; an assistance and investigation noncommissioned officer in Columbus, Ohio; and an executive administrative assistant in New Orleans.

She also received an honorary inclusion in the Women in Military Service for the America Memorial in Washington, D.C., which recognizes sacrifice and achievements of service women.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com