Hilda Grace Bruinton was born on August 22, 1949 in Kinston, North Carolina to John Jackson Jr. and Estelle Deering, and was the eldest of seven children. She graduated from Woodington High School in Kinston, North Carolina.
Hilda was married at the age of seventeen to Milton Bruinton. She left North Carolina in 1968 and took a job in Long Island, NY working as a live-in Nanny. After that, she relocated to Boston, Massachusetts. Hilda worked at Parker Hill/Fenway Head Start as a Bus Monitor, Cook and Teacher’s Aid. She also worked as a Teacher’s Aid at Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School.
Hilda enjoyed taking walks, visiting the Senior Center, shopping, going out to eat, listening to music, dancing and spending time at the casino. She adored all of her Family and Friends. At family cookouts and gatherings, you would always find her on the dance floor doing her signature move, “The Hilda”.
Hilda was a caring, generous woman. When she lived in Mission Hill, Hilda was a member of the Community Task Force. She would cook for and feed the neighborhood children. Hilda frequently made donations to The Goodwill Store and Savers Thrift Store.
Despite facing numerous hardships throughout her life, including the loss of her 10-year-old daughter Shayla to cancer, Hilda remained strong. She relied on her faith in God to make it through that difficult time. While dealing with her own health challenges, Hilda still had a positive outlook on life. We will always admire her strength and the resilience she showed throughout every obstacle she faced. Her home-cooked meals, laughter, sweet kisses and beautiful smile will be truly missed.
Hilda was preceded in death by her father, John Jackson Jr.; her daughter; Shayla Brunton; her sisters, Diane Jackson, Ida Lee Jackson and Jackie Jackson; her brother, Curtis Jackson and her children’s fathers; Robert L. Murphy and William H. Bell. She leaves behind to cherish her memory… her loving mother, Estelle Deering of Kinston, NC; four children, Reginald Murphy (Cassaundra) of Dacula, GA, Lashonda Harrison (John) of Randolph, MA, Nichole Brunton (Pierre) of Boston, MA and Shawn Brunton (Meydi) of Boston, MA; eight grandchildren, Jonee Harrison, Gavin Murphy, Jessica Murphy, Daejhele Shayla-Nickole Rousseau, Saniyah Brunton, Sharell Grace Harrison, Jordan Brunton and William Brunton; three sisters, Estella Young of Boston, MA, Louise Harrison of Kinston, NC and Willie Mae Jackson of Raleigh, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
