Gloria Millicent Worsley, a beautiful wife, mother, and Christian went to be with God in Heaven on Friday, December 8th, 2017. She was born on July 14th, 1928 in Brown’s Town, Jamaica, West Indies, a small rural town that supported family, friends, and Christian living. She was the oldest of five children born to Ambrozine and Ebenezer (Babes) Morris who raised her to be a generous, loving, God-fearing women. These attributes contributed to the way she lived her life. She attended St. John’s Catholic Church where she adopted the conviction that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved.” She donated to multiple charities, believing in their ability to offer help to those with need. Seeking to ease the comfort of aging, she volunteered at the Springbrook Center Nursing Home in her later years, reading to the elderly and providing them with company and solace in between their family visits.
Gloria was 89 when she passed away comfortably at Holy Cross Hospital. And although it is always hard to say goodbye, we should all take comfort in knowing she lived a glorious life. As a young girl in Jamaica, Gloria was a quiet yet inquisitive girl who was good at math and who grew up surrounded by a striking diversity of nature. She went on moonlight walks with her friends, and as Pamela, her sister tells it, had great fun watching the cows chase the boys. Those were the days when fun required vivid imagination. Those were the days when they made stories with stones and ran barefoot in the hills, sometimes transforming them into waterslides when given a chance after torrential rains.
In her late 20s she left Brown’s Town for the city of Kingston where she became big sister to her cousin Norma. Maybe it was there that Gloria honed her wit to develop nicknames, a practice she began in the innocence of childhood teasing and affection. Her long-haired sister, Pamela, became long-hair platterfer. Random boys became known as sledge-head, soup-spoon, and then there was her brother Stanley, known to Gloria as Pilachi.
Gloria left Jamaica in 1968 to pursue a life in America, stopping first in New York and then moving on to DC where she would make her permanent home. After arriving in DC, it was a matter of days before she began working as a legal secretary at Wald Harkrader Ross and Rockefeller. She later moved to Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan. She retired from the firm in 1996. Gloria’s world seemed to take shape immediately. No sooner had she arrived in DC, than she met George, and one year later they were married, which began 48 beautiful years together. The ritual Sunday dining out evenings and the many basement parties were part of the togetherness of Gloria and George. There was no Gloria without George and no George without Gloria. In the last few years as her health declined, George was her caretaker. He was her hero; she as his lady.
We will miss her terribly, but we will cherish the memories we have of her and remember fondly the stories she told. I know that she has found peace in heaven, along with a new strong body that allows her the opportunity to take full deep breaths again so she can do the things she loved to do. I know she is dancing and singing again, enjoying her crossword puzzles, eating her hot sauce, and playing with all the beautiful cats in heaven. I know she will never stop watching over us. But most of all, I hope she can hear us telling her we miss you and will always love you.
Gloria leaves behind her husband George Worsley, her daughters Gayll and Betty, her sister Pamela Walters, her Brother Stanley Morris, and her cat Slim.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18