Willie Mae Newkirk Blue was born on May 12, 1947 to Willie and Virgina Newkirk at Monmouth Medical Center. She entered into eternal rest on November 21, 2021 at the same facility.

Willie Mae grew up and was educated in Asbury Park, NJ. She was the oldest of 3 children. Willie Mae loved and provided guidance to her brother, Stevenson and sister, Virgie. The three of them were a hilarious trio.

Willie Mae loved fashion. She would attend or be a model in several fashion shows. Her Bestie, Geneva Smith, made sure she was always in style. She loved going to New York City for shopping and entertainment. Atlantic City trips were fun filled experiences.

Mrs. Blue was a serious "no nonsense" worker wherever she was. One of her first jobs was at Sunny Hunny Restaurant as a waitress. She worked at the Cosmic Birth as a mixologist. Asbury Park Press was also a former employer. Willie Mae retired from 30+ years in the Asbury Park School District. She was a dedicated member of Martin Luther King, Jr. Presbyterian Church.

She loved her family and friends. Willie Mae was a community "Mom". Many respected her as such. Mother, Auntie, Nana, Willa, Mama Blue, Cuz are some titles she answered to. She raised many children that are now adults in the area. They never forgot the positive influence she was to them. Feeding, boarding or offering advice to anyone who needed it. She created memories of love through many acts of kindness. She also had a knack to "read '' anyone whom she believed deserved it.

She was predeceased by her parents, Willie and Virginia Newkirk, daughter, Tia (exactly 4 months prior), brother, Stevenson Newkirk, sister, Virgie Newkirk, nephew, Vone Newkirk, niece, Nadirah Weston, and longtime companion, Joseph Powell.

She is survived by granddaughters, Rhea and Wileya (Sissy), great grand- daughters, Chayce Newkirk and Da'Mani Newkirk, special niece, Tameika Williams, great nephew, Myshawn Thomas, great great, nephew Sa'my Thomas, and Willie Mae will be truly missed by "special" devoted friends, Geneva Smith, Marsha Bagley, Josephine Hammary, Earlene Johnson, Ruth Laws, Otis Love, Wanda Smith and Harriett Young, "nephews", Lawrence McDonald and Shawn Clark, the "Heartbreak Ridge Crew", co-worker, Tron Goldfarb, and a community of family and friends to mourn her passing but cherish her life.