Estelle Williams Thorpe

Estelle Williams Thorpe, Registered Nurse (RN) was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina to the late Mr. Leroy and Mrs. Daisy (Wilson) Williams on August 22, 1932. She graduated from Dillard High School in Goldsboro. She is a graduate of L. Richardson Nursing School – Greensboro, North Carolina. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, where she met the love of her life, James E. Thorpe, Jr. She then worked as a staff nurse in Wayne Memorial Hospital – Goldsboro, NC. She was employed on May 13, 1957 at Grace New Haven Hospital, now known as Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) 5 EAST. In 1958, she received a promotion to Assistant Head Nurse (note: there was no Head Nurse at the time on units). She was subsequently awarded the Head Nurse position on January 5, 1959. In 1967, she became Head Nurse (Nurse Manager) of Personnel Health Services (now known as Occupational Health Services) where she worked until her retirement in December 1999.

Estelle continued her professional studies at Albertus Magnus College in the Nursing Program and at Southern Connecticut State University.

Estelle has been recognized by many organizations, including Yale New Haven Hospital, the Southern Connecticut Black Nurses Association (SCBNA) Mary E. Mahoney Award and the Young Women’s Christian Association (Women in Leadership) for demonstrated excellence in her profession and her ability to serve the community. She received the Sojourner

Truth Award (Elm City Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc.) 1996). Estelle served as President of the New Haven Club of NANBPWC, Inc. from 1984 through 1989. She received the Appreciation Award from the New Haven Club of NANBPWC, Inc. in 1990. She also served as the chair of Life Membership for the New Haven Club of NANBPWC, Inc. for many years. Additionally, Estelle was an active board member of Fellowship Place, Inc. of New Haven, CT.

Estelle was also recognized by other organizations. She received the Community Service Award from the North Haven Association of Black Citizens; recognition from the Greater New Haven Black History Committee, the Black History Committee of Hamden and the National Council of Negro Women. Estelle was the guest speaker at the Union Temple Black History Program (2014), New Haven, CT. Also during 2014, Estelle was a recipient of The Perfect Blend/Legendary Women Awards.

Estelle was honored by YNHH during Black History month (2005) as being the first African-American nurse manager at YNHH. She was highlighted many times on television (WTNH News Channel 8) during the month of February 2005. Articles of her accomplishments were displayed in the Advanced for Nurses magazine and the YNHH Bulletin (newsletters of YNHH). She was also featured in two editions of the Inner-City News publication.

The Estelle W. Thorpe Nursing Scholarship was established by YNHH, in recognition of her 43 years of dedication to the practice of nursing at YNHH and contributions to our community through her work with the SCBNA.

Estelle inspired several family members and close friends to pursue significant accomplishments in the field of medicine. She was immensely proud of this fact.

Estelle worked with the Greater New Haven Chapter of the NAACP Health Fairs. She co-chaired a health symposium and had much help from her B&P sisters of the New Haven Club and Elm City Club of NANBPWC, Inc.

She has been a member of the Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church for more than fifty years. During this time, she served as a deaconess, member of the Senior Choir, The Interfaith Caregivers, and the Debutante/Beau pageant committee including as co-chair. Estelle was a recipient of the esteemed Nannie Burrough’s award.

She enjoyed playing the piano, going to the theatre and public music events. She was an avid New York Yankees and Golden State Warriors fan. She enjoyed spending time with her two beloved grandchildren.

Estelle was predeceased by her husband, James E. Thorpe, Jr.; brothers, Leroy

Williams, Jr., Robert Williams, Richard Williams, Delinwood Williams, Curley “C.O.” Williams, and Joseph Williams; and sister, Elizabeth Mathis. She is survived by her daughter, Estrellita Jean Thorpe; son, James Edward Thorpe, III (wife Cheryl); grandson, James Edward Thorpe, IV; granddaughter, Jasmine Nicole Thorpe; brothers, Dr. Clarence (Mildred) Williams, Sr. and Reverend Ralph (Anita) Williams, Sr.; sisters-in-law: Carol Hall, Bettye Williams, Shirley Williams, Louise Thorpe, and Jonnie LewisThorpe; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Estelle credits her successes to God’s grace and mercy and parents. God has always guided her through her life_”Life Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair” (Langston Hughes)

A celebration of her life will take place Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 1324 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. Friends may call Tuesday at the church from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, Monetary Donations can be made to: The Estelle Thorpe Nurse Leader Development Fund, Southern Connecticut Black Nurses Association, P.O. Box 27177, West Haven, CT 06516. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Thorpe family, please visit, www. hkhfuneralservices.com