Gloria Jean Harper Fort

2022 Gloria Jean Harper Fort Obituary 

January 17, 2022 

Gloria Jean Harper Fort was born November 17, 1928, the fourth child of James Weldon Harper and Leila Smith Harper. Her parents migrated from the south to the north from Toccoa, Georgia moving first to Trenton, New Jersey and ultimately to Cleveland, Ohio where Gloria Jean and her sisters were raised and educated. 

They lived in a close-knit family. She and her sisters, Alice Harper McCrady, Dorothy Harper Pope, Judge Sara J. Harper (Trumbo) and Constance D. Harper were surrounded by a supportive network of relatives that spread across cities and states. 

Gloria Jean attended Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church with her family. She graduated from John Hay High School where she studied the secretarial sciences.  

Gloria Jean met and married Clarence Fort (deceased) and is survived by their three children: Michele Fort Merrill (William Wood), Mikal S. Aziz (Roberta) and Marcia Fort Varner (Rodger). 

Growing up in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, Gloria Jean had many friends. She, like her big sister Dorothy, loved to dance. She had an engaging personality and a true zest for life. 

In 1959, Gloria Jean moved her young family to Wilberforce, Ohio where she worked for Central State University. Later the family moved to San Diego, California where she lived and worked until her retirement. She returned to Cleveland to live for part of each year beginning in 2005, splitting her time between Cleveland and San Diego.  During her time in Cleveland, she was an active member and a staunch advocate for the Senior Program at East End Neighborhood House. 

Gloria Jean leaves to mourn her sister Judge Sara J. Harper (Trumbo), grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who provided her with a lifetime of joyful graduations, birthdays and holiday celebrations: 

Grandchildren: Mya Merrill Bishop (Brian), Bill Merrill (Aime), Laila Aziz, Mikal James Aziz (Nefertiti) Makayla Aziz, Maclovia Varner, Michelle Varner, Melinda Varner Webb (Carroll), Dajamah Blevins 

Great grandchildren: 

- Merrill grandchildren: Alex, Nathan, Will and Kaleb 

-Aziz grandchildren: Malcolm, Myles, Josiah, Malonna, Mykal, Mikiyah, Sahmir and Dayauna 

- Varner grandchildren: Cameran, Isaiah, Marcus, Dominique, Caia, Geno and Harper 

Nieces: Constance Trumbo Haqq, Kimberlee Joy Trumbo, Karen Monique Trumbo, Shasta D. Trumbo, Noa Kay Trumbo 

Nephews: James William (Bill) Trumbo, Adam Christopher Harper Trumbo, York William Moore (Shanna), Isaac Norwood Richmond, Harrison Theodore Trumbo 

Cousin: Winifred Lynton Reed 

Her spirit and presence in our lives has been a blessing. She will forever be missed. 

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