Gloria Wuanita Reid Holmes, daughter of John and Edna Reid, was born in Gloucester on Dec. 29, 1942. She departed this life on April 7, 2022.
She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and joined the New Mount Zion Baptist Church at an early age. She served as a devoted member of the Usher Board, serving as a junior usher and growing to become the head usher, as well as serving in the Women’s Ministry and Food Ministry, and as church treasurer.
After graduation from Thomas E. Walker High School, she attended Rappahannock Community College, where she earned her certificate in Culinary Arts. Gloria worked as a dietician at Mizpah Health Care Center for more than 35 years. After retirement, she was a dedicated voting registrar, a volunteer at the COPE Crisis Center and the food pantry at the Cryer Center, as well as the rescue squad thrift shop.
She was a good steward of her gifts, talents, and time as a seamstress and a floral arrangement designer for family and friends. Gloria enjoyed travel and was known to spread joy through her sense of humor and shared laughter. She was always the first one to show up for loved ones in times of sickness, ready to lend a hand wherever or whenever she was needed.
Gloria and William Holmes were united in holy matrimony on Aug. 5, 1972, until his passing in 2013. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
She leaves to celebrate her life and cherish precious memories, her sons Richard Beverley (Jennifer) of Ocean View, and Reginald Beverley of Raleigh, N.C.; her faithful companion, Clarence “Dickie” Jackson; four grandchildren, Ashley Parson (Terrance) of Atlanta, Ga., Richard D. Beverley of Watertown, Conn., Cheyenne Beverley of Tampa, Fla., and Merek Easton of New Castle, Del.; five great-grandchildren, Raheem, Rayhanna, Morgan, Amari, and Gia. She also leaves two sisters, Stella Reid of Beltsville, Md., and Hazel (Samuel) Bailey of Fredericksburg; three brothers Ernest (Catherine) Reid of Newport News, William (Mary) Reed of Bowie, Md., Earl (Lonzie) Reid of Gloucester; two sisters-in-law, Gloria (James) Holmes and Etta (William) Anderson of Urbanna, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She dearly loved her close-knit family and enjoyed spending time with them.
A public viewing is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday April 15 at New Mount Zion Baptist Church on Woods Cross Road in Gloucester. The funeral service is set for 10 a.m. Saturday April 16 at the church, followed by interment in the church cemetery.
