Obituary of Dela Mae Wheelock Guliford

Dela Mae Wheelock Guliford, 87, died peacefully at her Santa Cruz home on Tuesday evening surrounded by her loving family. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, she graduated from Leland College. She came to California in 1943 to work as a welder in the Sausalito shipyards, where she met and later married Franklin Guliford, who worked as a chipper there. In 1947 they came to Santa Cruz where they attended Holy Cross Church and volunteered in various church groups. Dela worked as an aide at Chaminade, later for several doctors in Santa Cruz, and then as a nurse's aide at Santa Cruz County Hospital. In 1966 after completing Cabrillo College Nursing Program, she returned to work as an LVN at County Hospital until it closed. She later worked at Garden Convalescent Hospital, and finally at Brommer Manor. Dela enjoyed gardening and "sewing" but mostly enjoyed helping others and telling her stories. She is survived by her daughter, Verna May Carter, son, I Crow X, two granddaughters, Rhonda Carter and Iasha Day and grandson, Khalib Day, all of Santa Cruz, two step-grandchildren, Brian Davidson of Washington, Paige Rivera of Morgan Hill and her great grandchildren, Kelizha Carter, Maliek, Safiya, Nailah, Iyanna, Mzuri Day-Kamaria & Maddox Day. She is preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Franklin Guliford, and sons Frank and Xavier Guliford. Visitation for family and friends will be at Santa Cruz Memorial , 1927 Ocean Street on Sunday, May 5th from 2 to 4 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church on Friday, May 10th at 12 Noon with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Celebration of Dela's life will follow from 2 to 4 at Garfield Park Circle Church , Santa Cruz.