Lydia M. Edghill
Lydia Edghill Obituary
Lydia Maria Edghill aka “Pundy”, daughter of Divina Francisca Carrington Gaskin and the late Joel Edgar Edghill was born January 23rd, 1967 in Brooklyn, NY. She was named after her beloved grandmother Lydia Edghill. She attended Philadelphia Academy for her elementary and secondary education before entering Springfield Gardens High School in Queens, NY. She graduated from Kingsborough Community College and continued her studies in Criminal Justice at John Jay College in NYC. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at Philadelphia Church of Universal Brotherhood, in Brooklyn, NY. Lydia relocated with her family to the Capital District in 1991 and became a member of the Macedonia Baptist Church in 1993. There she served faithfully on several ministries including the Women’s Auxiliary, Youth Ministry, The Gospel Ensemble, and most recently on the Utilization of Talents & Gifts Ministry.
Lydia began a 25 year career in insurance. She was a NYS Licensed Independent Motor Vehicle No-Fault and Workers Compensation Health Services Adjuster. Lydia was a dedicated employee with various insurance companies and developed long-lasting friendships with many of her co-workers.
In her early years, Lydia competed in several elocutionary and oratorical events always placing “First” in her category. She performed monologues & poetry from the likes of Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, & Margaret Walker. She continued for a brief while when she moved to Albany, and then became a coach to many including her sister, her son, and other young people. She most recently had the opportunity to return to virtual theatre and performed in the Opalka Gallery’s Stage & Stanza celebration honoring the late Dr. Mars Hill & James Baldwin.
As a result of her witty spirit and pleasant personality, she was loved by many. Her Christian life was as beautiful as the flowers that she loved so well, and her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her. Lydia gladly shared her resources and helped create opportunities for those in need. Her family’s fondest memories will be her love of fashion, good food, her sense of humor and her surprising love for hip-hop music.
Lydia never gave up on anyone but more importantly; Lydia never gave up on herself. The poet said, “Do not go gentle into the goodnight, but rage, rage against the dying of the light”. Lydia fought the good fight and departed this life Thursday, September 10th, 2020, at Albany Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her beloved father, Joel Edgar Edghill, who is also celebrated on this day.
Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her mother, Divina Gaskin; her deeply adored son Jonathan Edghill; her loving sister Rebekah Brisbane, her pride and joy was in her beautiful nieces Xiomara Chavaun & Xavia Cimone, her dedicated brother-in-law Albert Brisbane; her two aunts Marilyn Brathwaite-Pomeroy & Lorraine Braithwaite-Harte; her two uncles Federico Braithwaite & Herbert James Edghill, Jr.; her dearest and best friend of 40 years Jeanene Boyd; a host of devoted cousins that meant the world to her; a countless number of cherished friends; along with the great expectation of her new granddaughter Jo’elle Edghill.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lydia M. Edghill, please visit our floral store.
