NASHVILLE, TN — Gertrude Paskett Hobson was born in Antioch, Davidson County, Tennessee, on April 20, 1923, to Hulitt Paskett, Sr., and Lillie Floyd Paskett along with her younger brother Hulitt Paskett, Jr. Their life centered on hard work, family members, and attending St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Antioch.
The original town of Antioch began with a church located at Mill Creek in 1810 was a small farmland and community town because workers traveled to and from downtown Nashville which is approximately 12 miles southeast and served by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
With Tennessee being a segregated state, job opportunities for Black Americans were limited. While Gertrude and her brother attended the only black elementary school, her parents found work in Nashville. Her parents were divorced when she was ready for high school.
There was no high school for Blacks in Antioch, and Gertrude would had to walk 12 miles to attend school in Nashville! She eventually moved in with her father and stepmother in Nashville and graduated from Pearl High School. Gertrude and her brother made Nashville their home, and their mother remained in Antioch with her extended family until her death.
After high school, she met a World War II US Army veteran, James William Hobson, Sr. of Nashville. They married and had a son James (Jimmy) William Hobson, IL
Her husband wanted to provide a better living environment for his family and worked hard and ultimately bought a home in the 50s where Gertrude still resides today.
Their greatest gratification was their son, who was drafted and served with the US Army in Viet Nam. After returning home went to college and graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in Engineering.
Over some time, Gertrude worked two jobs to help with the family expenses and continued after her husband died in 1979. Despite hardships and the heartfelt loss of family and friends, she remained devoted to her faith. Gertrude is a devoted member of Olivet Baptist Church in Nashville and a few years ago she was recognized with an award as their oldest member.
Gertrude loved working crossword puzzle books (until her sight declined), working in the yard, conversing with friends, reading her Bible, and anchoring her faith in God. Inspired by the support of both the Paskett and the Hobson families, and her son’s devoted love, her spirit remains focus on God the Father and his blessings.
