Marian Doris Holness Gault

Marian Doris Holness Gault, age 89 of Atco, NJ, passed away Monday, January 1, 2024.

The Young Panamanian

In 1934, Marian Doris Holness (named after her maternal aunts), was born in Panama Canal Zone, Republic of Panama on October 1st, the feast day of her patron saint, “The Little Flower”, St. Therese of Lisieux. She was the third of six children born to parents Belville and Marcela (Anderson) Holness. Marian attended elementary school in Gamboa, and was voted “Most Popular” , and was the treasurer of her high school student government at LaBoca High School from which she graduated with honors in 1952.

Marian was mom’s right hand; caring for younger siblings and managing our Gamboa household when mom was ill, hospitalized or participating in church and community affairs. Her interests and talents were diverse and expansive! She was a holistic learner who studied upholstery, biology, chemistry, home economics and read incessantly, extensively, and expansively. Marian and Gloria McFarlene became culinary entrepreneurs in the community. The aroma of their baking and cooking filled the air of our hometown with the smells of homemade donuts, lemon merengue, crisscross apple pies, pineapple upside down, marble and coconut cakes and custards, fried chicken, soups with dumplings and many Jamaican delectables, such as fried bread which we called “bakes”, patties, carimanolas, coconut rice and peas, potato salad, fried plantains and knockwurst sandwiches made with pickles, onions and mayo all ground in our manual table grinder. Marian was a self-taught hair stylist who pressed and styled hair for ladies in the community which provided extra money for our family coffers. She worked in the fashion department at Balboa Commissary which helped her develop an eye for couture fashion.

Marian was a pioneer; a young lady who dreamt of a career as a molecular biologist. She set out to achieve her goals by emigrating to the United States after graduation to enter nursing school.

The Immigrant

At the tender age of 17, Marian entered St. Agnes Nursing School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her leadership qualities were noticed immediately by supervisory nuns who selected her as a delegate to the New Jersey National Panel of Catholic Student Nurses in 1954. She graduated from nursing school in 1956 and returned to Panama briefly to arrange for permanent visa status in the U.S. She passed her nursing board exams and began her professional nursing career. She became a U.S. citizen; was a leader in dual citizenship movement with the National Conference of Panamanians re: voting rights and worked tirelessly to effect reform for people of color in Panama.

Family and Career

Marian married Calvin Gault in 1957. From their union Daryl and Taisia Gault were born. The family moved from Philadelphia to New Jersey where the children grew up while Marian pursued her nursing career in New Jersey and later in New York while remaining a dedicated working mother.

She became a nursing instructor and administrator who developed manuals, policies and procedures for teacher training, nursing, as well as hospital procedures for health, safety, and patient care. Marian was the first black person to be appointed Director of Nursing and served as Chairperson for the accreditation of a new 250 bed acute care hospital in southern New Jersey. Marian also worked as a public health coordinator with the migrant program; monitored and evaluated public schools for the state of New Jersey. While pursuing her career in the public/private sector and skillfully/lovingly caring for her family; she received her B.A. and M.A. in Education from Glassboro State College in New Jersey.

In 1984, Marian and her lifelong friend and high school classmate Roy Bryce LaPorte reconnected, and their friendship blossomed into a loving relationship that would last until his passing in 2012. They were “soul mates” who shared profound love, intellectual curiosity, as well as spiritual and humanitarian concerns. They researched afro patterns of migration, pursued, collected oral and written data and documentation, and gave lectures and presentations on Holness genealogy and DNA.

Community Activist

Marian and Roy were co-founders of PCIAA (Panama Canal International Alumni Association) which honors former “Zonian” educators and students who have done exemplary work for education and community. She was a member of the New Jersey Migrant Task Force, Board Member of Child Assault Prevention, New Jersey Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Hispanic Task Force of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Marian was the recipient of many awards for her service to the State of New Jersey, and at-large communities. Those honors included: Who is Who in the East; Who is Who In Black America, Who is Who International Women of the World; Dewitt Wallace Fellow for Collaborative Leaders and an award from the Institute of Educational Leadership Washington. D.C.

The Individual

Marian’s birth sign was Libra, so she was acutely aware of keeping her personal and professional life in balance. Marian had a deep commitment to family, friends, community and cared for her children and siblings with skill and compassion. She picked up children in the Gamboa community on Sundays to ensure they attended church and Sunday School. She even took little sister Yolanda to high school with her since she not of school age and Marian was too responsible to miss classes.

She washed, ironed our clothes, combed our hair, cooked, took care of the household when mom needed a hand with chores and management of the family business. She gets sister Yoli’s award for best sister/mom!

While working full time and caring for her own family, she made it her mission to reach back, pull and push our family forward; ensuring that we all made it to the United States to have opportunities to improve our lives. She was a selfless giver who always put others before herself. She shared all her resources: money, food and time, with anyone who needed help. She did not become a molecular biologist on paper but her dogged, pioneering pursuit of family genealogy and DNA research checked that box! Marian was fiercely loyal, trustworthy, independent, strong, confident, and intelligent. She was a born leader, and was a stickler for details and accuracy of information, which is why she took copious, detailed notes of all conversations, and transactions and kept a journal; skills she developed from nursing and teaching. Marian was dedicated to her family, profession, patients and co-workers. She was compassionate and had a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, but never realized just how funny she was. She had a breadth and depth of interests and could carry on a conversation on any topic. Marian was a deeply spiritual woman who meditated daily.

Marian lived a fulfilled, rewarding personal and professional life. All who knew her were blessed and comforted by her friendship and love: her parents Belville and Marcela, children Daryl and Taisia (Ticy) Gault, Grandchildren Diona and David Gault, siblings: Gloria Smythe, Joyce Findlay, Yolanda Clark, Rita (Julie) Castillo, Roy, Bobby, Libdo (Pinky) Holness, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, co-workers and especially the love of her life; Roy Bryce LaPorte.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation Friday, January 26, 2024 from 10:00-11:00am, with funeral services to follow at 11:00am all at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N Third St. Hammonton. NJ 08037.