Goddess Kim Wilbert

Goddess Kim Wilbert ended her earthly journey on Thursday, April,2020. She peacefully transitioned in her Washington, DC home surrounded by family. She will be remembered as a lovely, kind, caring, fun loving spirit. She will be greatly missed by her family, former co-workers and wide circle of friends, including her Wilson Senior High School Alumni and Fisk University Alumni groups.

Goddess Kim was an only child born on May 12, 1960 to Walter K. Wilbert and Dr, Betty W. Nyangoni in the Bronx, New York. She grew up in Washington DC. She attended elementary schools at Bancroft and Raymond; junior high schools at Deal and Jefferson; high school at Wilson. She also attended Slaybaugh/Absegami School in Southern, New Jersey.

She was a proud graduate of Fisk University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and South eastern University, where she earned a master’s degree. Further studies were pursued at Howard University. In high school she was active in Junior Achievement. In high school she was a majorette and gymnast. In college she was a cheerleader. She was passionate about cheerleading and passed those associated skills onto her daughter, who became a cheerleader at her high school, Archbishop Carroll Catholic High School and her college, Florida Memorial University.

During her lifetime, she was an avid reader, enjoyed crafts and girl scouting. She held membership in Phi Delta Kappa, AARP and Parent Teacher Organizations at Immaculate Conception Catholic School and Archbishop Carroll Catholic School. She also served as the longtime secretary and web page manager for the Curlee-Dula Family Foundation, a private family association. In recent years she became interested in genealogy, tracing her ancestry back to the Revolutionary War. She explored the Corpening and Dula families from whom she is descended. The storied Dula clan in Western North Carolina has been the subject of numerous articles, books and a recent, highly acclaimed documentary, that was aired on PBS.

Before her health declined, she worked at the Department of Employment Services, in the DC Government. She also worked in the DC Public Schools, as one of the first attendance counselors, Sanz School, the Philips Collection and many years with the local Girl Scouts. She provided valuable support services to her mother’s education consultant work. In the community, she volunteered and participated in several local political campaigns. Voting in all elections was a priority for her. She was proud to recount her cherished memories of marching with Martin Luther King Jr; attending a rally for Cesar Chavez, participating in a demonstration to free Angela Davis in California and attending a religious service by Bishop Desmond Tutu, all before she was 12 years old. These gave her a front row on historical moments, which she never forgot.

Goddess Kim leaves behind to mourn her passing a loving daughter, Taylor L. Wilbert; a devoted mother, Dr. Betty W. Nyangoni and a special friend, Thomas Tillman, all of Washington, DC; an aunt, Frances Crosby of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; cousins Crystal Coplin (Kevin) of Woodbridge, Virginia, Adolphus Coplin (Valerie) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Cynthia Garrett and Joseph Garrett Jr. of Norfolk, Virginia, Grady Crosby 11 (Monique) of Milwaukee. Wisconsin, Shirley Roper of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Cheryl Reid of Brooklyn, New York and a great aunt, Ida Dula Banner, Lenoir, North Carolina. Other special family and friends include Dr. Wellington Nyangoni, stepfather, of Waltham, Massachusetts, Rovena Jeter of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Jerry Johnson of Washington, DC, Bobbie Corpening Dula Wakefield of Burke County, North Carolina, Renee Dula Shade of Lenoir, North Carolina and a legion of family and friends, including face book friends.

Treasured Grandparents, George W. Curlee and Flossie Dula Lambert Curlee pf Winston-Salem, North Carolina and uncle, Randolph Curlee of Pueblo, Colorado preceded her in death.