Obituary of Gloria B. Jefferson
Gloria Parthenia Brown Jefferson was born on April 7, 1929 in Washington, D.C. to the late Anthony Alfonso and Nannie Elise Brown. She was the third of five children, and caregiver of the family along with her younger sister, Jackie. Gloria was preceded in death by her siblings Lewis, Louise, Jackie and Ginger.
Gloria attended Dunbar High School, graduating with the class of 1947 from the nation’s first high school for African American students founded in 1870. Both she and her husband Ralph are alumni, along with many of the friends they had in common growing up in DC. After high school Gloria worked in various capacities, as well as helping her mother with cottage industry piecework to make ends meet. She was certified as a Radiology Technologist, receiving her training at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, DC. Gloria would tell her kids she was from the “Depression Era”, and when questioned about the time frame would always say, “It lasted longer for us folks”!
Gloria met her husband-to-be at a friend’s wedding in early 1950. Gloria was a bridesmaid and presumably caught the bouquet with groomsman Ralph standing close by. On August 27, 1952 Ralph and Gloria “ran away to marry” because Gloria didn’t want to let her parents know given her incredibly close bond with her mother. Ralph likely came up with the plan to elope and off they went. Ralph finished architecture school at Howard University, then they headed north for better opportunities. After a brief stay in Brooklyn, New York, they eventually settled in Westfield, New Jersey where they remained until 1999. Their first home was on Windsor Avenue, where they met their lifelong friends, Calvin “Tab” and Marion Henry, who became an extension of the family, spending many holidays together and helping to raise each other’s children. Within a year both families had relocated to “The Other End” of Westfield, and the families remained close.
Gloria started her career in NJ at Muhlenberg Hospital. Gloria spent her entire career working at Muhlenberg and developed strong relationships with her coworkers and administrators. Gloria began working there in the late 50’s. She took a brief break in the mid-60s to raise her two children. Gloria resumed her career at Muhlenberg Hospital in 1971 until her retirement in 1994, right before the birth of her first grandchild. Gloria was active in her community and served with her husband in various activities centered around civil rights for the underrepresented in the 60s and 70s.
In the late 70s Gloria’s life changed forever when she became a “Born Again” Christian, a few months after her husband’s conversion. Gloria and Ralph spent many years in Kairos Prison Ministries, with Gloria going into Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women (formerly Clinton Correctional Facility) on many weekends, spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the inmates. She was passionate about prison ministry and always had colorful stories for the family, after spending a weekend behind bars. Gloria and Ralph were also faithful members of Cursillo and Tres Dias, both three-day Christian movements that stressed spiritual development and promoted small group reunions.
Gloria and Ralph attended First Congregational Church of Westfield and later joined Cranford Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. Faith remained a central part of Gloria’s life, and she was an active participant in Bible Studies, home fellowships, evangelism and worship services until illness took its toll in the last year of her life. Even then, Gloria would always have Christian television stations playing on her TV. Her favorite pastors were Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah and Michael Yousef.
After a stroke in January of 2024, Gloria began to succumb to the effects of aging, which previously, at the tender age of 94, were barely apparent. While Gloria suffered some mobility issues, she basically lived “independently” at Atria Senior Living in her own apartment. True to her spirit, she persevered through her first rehab and was back on her feet for a few weeks. During this time, she enjoyed a fabulous 95th birthday party. In May 2024 Gloria was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). She moved into The Birchwood rehab/nursing facility. Despite being confined to a wheelchair and still struggling to communicate, she continued to participate in social activities and be much beloved “Ms. Gloria” to all who would let that little light of hers shine on them. Those who knew her best will always remember her as a woman who loved life, loved God, and loved God’s children, and shared that love wherever she went.
Gloria was a loving wife, a devoted mother and grandmother, and most importantly, a child of God. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Dawn Jefferson; daughter, Jeanne Jefferson Moss; grandson, Justin Moss; granddaughter, Taylor Moss; nieces Linda Jefferson, Judy Cedeno, and Therese Taylor-Stinson; nephew, David Jefferson; and many other relatives and friends.