March 1, 2025 Zion Hill Baptist Church, 802 Zion Hill Road, Keswick, VA 22947
Family Gathering, 10:00 am – 11:00 am; Memorial Service, 11:00 AM
1945 - 2025
Gloria was born on November 20th, 1945 and passed away on February 14th, 2025
at the age of 79
November 20 was a cold Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving in 1945, when Clarence Winston and Margaret Virginia Johnson lovingly welcomed a chubby-cheeked baby girl they adoringly named Gloria Maxine into the world at University Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. The youngest of four children, Gloria joined a close-knit family of two older sisters Virginia, Dorothy, an older brother, Clarence “Billy” and lived “up the hill” from her paternal Grandparents: who brought her a scrambled egg for breakfast every morning. Jokingly called Aunt Gloria, she grew up with her nephews Kenneth and Charles “Butch” Ellis and niece Doris Ellis, all four being born between 1945 and 1947.
At the tender age of six Gloria accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was baptized for membership at the family church, Zion Hill Baptist in Keswick, VA by Rev. J. H. Ford at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Gordonsville, VA. She was a bright child, attending #7 Elementary School in Barboursville, VA and in 1961, at the age of 16, graduated valedictorian from George Washington Carver Regional in Rapidan, VA.
The Johnson family members were ardent advocates of education and in 1962, her parents, paternal aunts, uncles, and grandparents pooled their resources to send Gloria to West Virginia State College. It was in the library of this campus, during football season and on her 17th birthday, that Gloria met a popular running back who was not only easy on the eyes, but would ease his way into her heart, Johnny Gilmore. While at State, she joined the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Alpha Delta chapter, and during summer breaks, worked for the U.S. Treasury and General Service Administration in Washington D.C. In May 1966, Gloria graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology and a Minor in Philosophy. After five years of courtship, Gloria and Johnny wed on June 3, 1967, and moved to Michigan, where they joined Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, began working, and expanded their family. Together they welcomed a small army of four Gilmore children: Johnny “Jode” Delaney Jr., James Walter Johnson, Gloria Joyi Johnson and Giara Johan Johnson.
For 30 years, Gloria enjoyed a distinguished leadership career with the Department of Defense. Known for her two-piece power suits, pumps and designer eye wear, she traveled extensively, implementing and managing the U. S. Army Tank Automotive & Research Command’s (TARCOM) Human Resource programs, developing/directing personnel demonstration projects and as an adjunct professor at the Army Training Center for military officers and civilian personnel. Her fair but firm governance and superior work ethic earned her numerous performance awards and Army commendations, including two Commanders Awards and Medals, the Superior Civilian Service Award and Medal, Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Medal, and inclusion on TARCOM’s Civilian Wall of Fame. She also received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the American Business Women’s Association of Detroit and was recognized as Outstanding Supervisor of the Year by Federally Employed Women at their National Convention of Federally Employed Women.
In addition to her career, Gloria volunteered in many community based programs serving as Director of Christian Education; Director of Vacation Bible School, Usher and Church Scouting Coordinator for her church; Advisor, Instructor and Publicity Chair for the Michigan State NAACP; Membership Chair for the Northern Oakland County Branch, NAACP; volunteer, organizer, trainer and Michigan Scouting Commissioner for Oakland County Boy Scouts of America in Oakland County, Michigan, and as a volunteer and organizer in numerous other youth, senior advocate and community programs.
In 1996, Gloria retired, and in 1997, she, Johnny and their youngest daughter Giara, returned to her childhood home in Gordonsville, VA, a 10-acre plot of land that in 2026 will have been maintained by the Johnson family for an impressive 100 years. After the move, she continued her community involvement, serving as Church Administrator for her beloved home and family church, Zion Hill and supporting all the church’s ministries. One of her favorites was the choir. On Sundays, she either directed the choir or could be seen rocking, clapping, and singing in the choir loft belting out hymns and modern arrangements in her uniquely high, soprano voice. In her spare time, she was a devoted member of the Spirit of Truth Community Choir. Over the years Gloria has served as an advisor for the Orange County NAACP Youth Council, secretary of the Orange County Electoral Board, First Vice President of the Women’s Auxiliary, Piedmont District Baptist Association, Director of the Louisa County “Historical Society and the Orange County African American Historical Society, Trustee of the Woodberry Cemetery Association, and member of the Interfraternal Council of Charlottesville and the Red Hat Ladies of DeVille.
While she valued her numerous professional accomplishments and community service work, Gloria’s true passions were her family, the family’s history, and her friends. Nothing was ever too big or too small for those she loved. Whether she had to drive across the city with her man to impose their dominance at a spades game, admonish school administrators for falling short of the education standards she demanded for her children, serve as a caretaker for her elderly aunt or help her grandson’s kindergarten class strategically navigate manure piles as they walked through a petting zoo, Gloria did it all---with love and her cheeky smile. Months in advance, everyone knew she was not available during the summer months because at that time she was dedicated to her grandchildren. The rule was, as long the child was potty trained, “Gammi” and “Poppi” would keep them for the summer. Their grandchildren’s summer days were filled with fancy tea parties, catching fireflies, life lessons like budgeting, learning to grocery shop, to cook, and picking up sticks in the yard. She captured all their escapades and other exciting family updates in her famous “Annual Year-End Review,” mailed to friends and family around the country. She never met a stranger, could talk about anything with anyone, and formed a multitude of meaningful and endearing friendships. She loved having a good laugh sharing funny stories, most of which took her forever to tell because she laughed so hard remembering the details. Minutes would pass and listeners were still waiting for her to finish, as she laughed herself to tears accompanied by an occasional snort.
For more than half a century, she collected pictures, conducted interviews, and researched her lineage. It was the norm for her to be in a store or at a church event and yell to someone “don’t I know you” and somehow finding kinship at each interaction. She was the Kevin Bacon phenomenon of Virginia, linked to everyone in the state through six or fewer connections. The pinnacle of her familial research was her identification of her seven times great-grandmother, Charlotte, a free black woman born in 1743 and died in May of 1806. On February 8, 2018, Gloria embarked on a new adventure that brought her immense pride and fulfillment, serving as the founding President of One Shared Story. The purpose of this minority based non-profit organization is to teach genealogy and family research of African American roots, to map the stories of black communities and to promote African American history in local communities, churches and educational institutions including universities and colleges.
On Friday, February 14, 2025, Gloria found eternal peace in the arms of the Lord; at her side, was her husband, protector and devoted caregiver until the end, Johnny. In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her first born, Jode; siblings: Virginia and Billy; aunts: Lucille and Ruth; uncles: Kenneth and James, and nephew: Kenneth Ellis. To cherish her memories, she leaves behind her loving husband of 57 years; children: James Gilmore of Clinton Township, MI, Gloria Joyi (Aaron) Henry of Margate, FL and Giara (Lateef) Warnick of Green Cove Springs, FL; seven grandchildren: James Jr., Ciara and Jayon Gilmore, Arianna and Talaya Henry, and Soraya and Elijah Warnick; sister: Dorothy Ellis of Richmond, VA; special niece and nephews: Doris Ellis Williams (Grant), Charles Ellis and Clarence Johnson (Cathy); in-laws: Martha Bowler Johnson, Frances Nicholas Gilmore, Shirley Gilmore Dixon (Rev. Clifford), Richard Gilmore, Linda Gilmore Walker (Rev. Jesse); and a of host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Special Thanks to her dear, faithful friend and sister from another mister Robin Patton (Danny) and a host of close friends, especially Emily Winkey, Doreatha Dickerson, Percy Cody, Margaret Brown (Lloyd) and Ann Payne.
Gloria Johnson Gilmore was and always will be loved, respected, and deeply missed by both her biological and Zion Hill Baptist Church families as well as her many friends and associates.