Mr. Gilbert Joshua Abbey was born on March 28, 1935 at La. His father was Mr. George Arnetey Abbey from La, Abetse We and his mother was Ms. Clara Atswei Bartimeus from Okpon-We Teshie Lenshie, both of blessed memory.
Gilbert started his primary education at the Anteson Memorial School in 1941 at La. At the age of ten years, his father sent him to Anumele Primary School near Legon, where he completed his primary education in 1947.
The same year he gained admission to Larteh Boys Boarding School and completed in 1950. After completion he continued at Ashley secretarial school at Adabraka , where he studied shorthand and typing. After completion, he worked briefly at a British company known as UAC as a secretary.
He was employed at the Ministry of Health where he worked as a typist from 1955 to 1960. He rose through the ranks to become a Health Inspector. He later began working at Farmers Council as a stenographer from 1960 to 1965.
He transferred to the Cocoa marketing Board of Ghana where the pay was much better than the civil service job. After the 1966 coup d’ etat in Ghana, (CMB) job was not lucrative.
He was married to Nancy Ackah and they had 3 children together. He later had another child with Beryl Anerley Laryea. To better support his growing family, in March 1970 GJ migrated to the United States to obtain a better life for his family.
During his years in the States he attended Borough of Manhattan Community College where he took business courses from 1976 to 1978. He later attend New York City Technical College from 1983 to 1986.
He also worked for the American Bible Society in Brooklyn during the years of 1973 to 1980. His admiration for business and accounting led him to a job as a bookkeeper at J & E auto transmission service from 1980 to 1987. He also drove a gypsy cab briefly and a yellow cab also. Changing his oil at a gas station, he met his neighbor who spoke to him about an application for a token booth clerk. GJ begun working for NYCT as a Rail Road clerk in 1990 until he retired due to his poor health and lack of quality air in the enclosed booth in 2005.
GJ Abbey's devotion to the Presbyterian Church, started early by his mom Clara Bartimeus. In the states he was a member of the St James Presbyterian Church on 143 st Harlem before he finally joined The Ghana Presbyterian Church in NY. He was a loving, devoting father and grandfather. He is survived by his children and grandchildren.
May your soul rest in perfect peace and God be with you until we meet again
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