Gladys Mae Ladson , 96, of Vinton, Virginia, formerly of New York City, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 14, 2025, in Vinton. Born on September 27, 1928, in Elizabeth City, NC, Gladys lived a long and meaningful life centered around family, faith, and service to others.

Gladys began her career as a beautician in New York City in 1963, where she shared her warmth, skill, and sense of style with countless clients over the years. A dedicated member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, she was baptized June 19, 1979. Her faith was a guiding force in her life and a source of strength and inspiration to those around her.

Originally from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Gladys moved to New York City to pursue opportunity and community. She carried with her the strong values of faith, resilience, and love that she would pass down through generations.

Gladys was preceded in death by her mother, Majorie Brown; father, Willie Wilson; brothers, James Wilson, Bud Wilson, and Tea Wilson; sisters, Lilly Wilson, and Ella Grant; her husband, William Ladson; her son, Leonard Wilson; and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins, including Renell Grant.

Those left to cherish her memory include her six children: George "Dee" Wilson, Abdul R. Bilal, Carolyn Stanford, Eugene Stanford, Jacqueline Nelson, and Kim Steelman; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, including Irene Patterson. Her legacy of faith, love, and strength lives on in all of them.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, to be officiated by Brother James Williams.

A live stream of the service will be on Zoom, please enter the following information into the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86887197424?pwd=7TCXHGrBgaCmDiLgevS4SbyChDoeUp.1#success

Meeting ID: 868 8719 7424

Passcode: 687786