Gloria A. Ferguson

On July 27, 1934, Amos and Johnnie Mae Hawkins gave birth to a beautiful daughter, which they named Glorine Ann Hawkins in Birmingham, Alabama.  Glorine was the last child born to a family of eight, with six older brothers and one sister.  The family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1944, where Gloria accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. 

Gloria attended Saint Thomas Aquinas, an all-girls high school in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in 1952.  She went on to pursue certification coarse studies in cooking, and hospitality at Manpower to then certify as a Dietician in 1965.

Gloria had a broad range of employment history.  Her last employer was Northeast Prerelease Center/State of Ohio where she was employed for sixteen years.  This was a significant part of her life until her retirement in 2008.     

Gloria was a strong, God-fearing woman who was known for having a strong personality and a strong sense of self, offering her sage wisdom to others.  She was an avid music lover, most fond of rhythm & blues, and jazz.  She frequently attended local and mainstream concerts.  She also loved shopping, sewing, and was an excellent cook.  A manager once told her, “Ms. Ferguson, you can make dog food taste good.” Gloria used her culinary talents to show adoration to others.  She shared all of her talents with her children. 

Gloria departed this life on November 27, 2018

Gloria’s matra was “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.”

She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory: Three daughters, Sabrina Ann Harris of Chicago, Illinois, Kimberley Mary (Darryl) Francis, Stephanie Marlene (Roger) Perkins, three sons, Eric Roy (Celina) Gardenhire, Ornette Paul Gardenhire, Kai Adams, one sister, Marlene Wilson of Toronto, Canada; fourteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends.

                                                                                    Lovingly Submitted,

                                                                                                            The Family  

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