Gloria Lance

Gloria Spann Lance, 94, loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, passed away Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Hickory NC. She was born on February 18, 1929 in Abbeville, AL. Her family later moved to Jakin, GA where she lived until graduating high school. The eldest child of a sharecropper, she was no stranger to hard work, pitching in to help raise the other children and to keep her family warm and fed.

After graduation, Gloria moved to Ft. Myers, FL and then relocated to Atlanta, GA to work for the state Dept. of Transportation. She took a job with the Gerber Baby Food Co. and transferred to Asheville, NC in 1958 as the company secretary when a new plant was opened in Arden, NC. Always giving her all to every employer that she worked for, Gloria worked at the Blue Ridge Mental Health Center in Asheville until her retirement in 1989. She moved to Hickory in 2006 to live with her older daughter, Gail, where she was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church.

Always working a full-time job did not deter Gloria from growing a large vegetable garden full of corn, beans, potatoes, squash, strawberries, etc. She typically harvested enough to fill up four freezers and a canning cabinet, generously sharing with friends and neighbors. At only 5 feet tall, she manned a large Troy-Bilt tiller, cultivating her own soil with cow manure and loads of composted leaves she collected from neighbors in her old pickup truck.

Gloria was an amazing down-home cook, feeding friends and family with joy. Her pie crusts and cornbread were always made from scratch, and her specialties included chicken pot pie and apple dapple cake. An avid reader, she was never without a book in hand when not working.

Gloria insisted on reading each ending first to make sure that it was “happy” before she invested her time and energy. An accomplished seamstress, crocheter and quilter, she created many pieces that her family cherishes. Love was in every single stitch.

Gloria met the love of her life, Charles Blaine Lance, and married him in 1962. They led a warm, loving, productive life together until Charles’ death in 1988. Becoming a grandmother at age 67 was one of the highlights of her life. She loved Joshua and Cade tremendously. Always ready to watch the boys at any time, she made life fun while selflessly nurturing and supporting them.

Gloria was a peacemaker, lover of babies, skilled gardener, compassionate friend, wise counselor, feisty supporter of women and a diligent worker. Throughout her life, Gloria sowed many seeds of kindness and love that bear fruit today. She will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley Herrin Spann and Hassie Mae Ward Spann; husband, Charles Blaine Lance; and brother, Larry Spann (Rebecca) of Donalsonville, GA. She is survived by her daughters, Gail Taylor Leonard (Baxter C. J. Leonard) of Hickory, NC and Laura Jeanne Lance Styles (Aaron) of Horse Shoe, NC; grandsons, Joshua and Cade Styles; sisters, Addie Sirmons of Bartlett, TN and Betty Sirmons of Albany, GA.

There will be Celebration of Life memorial service announced at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the Lance family at www.drumfh-hickory.com.

The Lance family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Hickory , NC