Gloria Haupt Irby

Gloria was born in Pineville, Kentucky to Alexander Luther Smith and Myrtle E. Reed where she lived the first seventeen years of her life. After graduating from high school, Gloria and her sister, Louise, moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. There she met William “Bill” Marcus Haupt, Sr. who became her husband on January 29, 1943. They moved to Insull, Kentucky where Bill worked for Gloria’s dad in a coal mine. It was there that their first child was born. Six months later they moved to Alabama. Gloria and Bill were blessed with four more children. They joined the congregation of First Baptist Church of Satsuma. Gloria served as pianist/organist for 60 years. Her music touched the lives of many, not only through the numerous students she taught, but also the countless weddings, funerals, and revivals/church services she played for in the Mobile and Baldwin county areas. Gloria lost Bill in 1981 after 38 years of marriage. In 1985 she married Clarence Newburn Irby. They were married for 27 years. Clarence passed away in 2012. Gloria is preceded in death by her parents Alex and Myrtle Smith, brothers, Beauford, Alfred, Alexander, Jr., Brian and Bruce and sisters Marilyn, MarySue, and Jennie. She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Bill and Clarence and son, Bill, Jr.

Gloria is survived by her sisters Louise Kelly, Joy Birch and Marjorie Grout, and brother David Smith. She is also survived by her children Carole (George) Myers of Daphne, Katherine (Mike) Henson, Al (Wilma) Haupt of Satsuma and Elizabeth Johnson of Montgomery. Gloria was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends. Rev. George Myers and Rev. Kenny Dean will officiate the service. Active pallbearers will be grandsons George Myers II, Alex Haupt, Jody Haupt, and Marcus Henson, great grandsons Hunter Myers, Hudson Haupt, and Zachary Jordan. Honorary pallbearers Cooper Henson, Mason Myers, Micah Dean and Zachary Dean. The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of Kindred at Home and Kindred Hospice for their loving care.

Services for Gloria will be held at First Baptist Church of Satsuma on Friday, September 22, 2017. Visitation will be from 12pm-2pm with service to follow at 2pm. Interment will follow at Mobile Memorial Gardens.