Gloria Jean Keith, 69, passed peacefully into the welcoming arms of God, on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Born in Akron, Ohio on September 26, 1948 to the late Ernest Ezell Wright and Linnie Hollingsworth Wright, Gloria left this life as she lived it, surrounded by the love of her family.

A lifelong member of the Greater Bethel Baptist Church, where her great-grandmother was a founding member, Gloria embraced the principal to “Train up a child in the way that he should go” instilling the importance of having a relationship with God to strengthen one’s life to all she knew. She sang in the church choir for more than 40 years alongside the love her life and husband of 51 years, Nathan “Buddy” Keith.  As graduates of Akron East High School, Gloria and Nathan stayed dedicated to keeping the “Eastside” viable and were committed volunteers with the East Peewee Football Program and Booster Club for several years. “Where you saw Gloria, you knew Buddy was somewhere nearby”. They were indeed the dynamic duo from their bowling teams to exploring the country on their motorcycles. Their two sons and grandchildren were their most successful team projects. The strength and courage these two sowed into them is so evident today at such a time as this.

Gloria was also an accomplished seamstress, a skill she taught to her granddaughter, and enjoyed tinkering, taking things apart, as well as beating her “Grans” in video games.  She worked in accounting at Olson’s Electronics for 20 years and retired as a supervisor from the Summit County Child Support Bureau in 2016 after 31 years of service.  Forever the pillar of strength, Gloria never missed the opportunity to reach out to encourage others, including her co-workers, brightening their day with that brilliant sense of humor and that quick wit of hers.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was greeted at the gates by her brother Ernest. She will forever be cherished by her husband Nathan, sons Nathan (Willa) and Ernest “Erne” (Audra Baker), grandsons Nathan III and Ethan Keith, and granddaughters, Telayne Keith and Daysha Lawrence (Jamel), and great-grandson, Maxwell Lawrence.

Loved ones also missing her presence are Gloria’s siblings, whom she displayed an unwavering love for and one that was visibly returned by them, sisters Linda Bray (Rasheed), Sheila Wright-Grier, Charlene (Pinky) Wright and brother Albert Wright (Julie); brother and sisters-in-law, James Hollimion (Patricia), Renee Curry, and Anita Burton.

Devoted nieces Vanetta Ayers, Chasity, Ebony, Tonisha, Temperance, Leah and Bethany Wright, Lanetta Reed, Roianne Fisher, Natalie Holman, Carella Blue, Leslie Powe, Mildred Pearson, Dehelvelin, Terita, and Rica Keith; nephews Timothy and Ernest Wright, Jamie Hollimion (Vanessa), Markus (Nicole), Myron, Tommie (Liza) and Tyrell Burton.

Gloria had a special closeness to her first cousins Minnie Jo Smith, Lillie Earl Terrell, Alice Jenkins, and Marie Smith as well as lifelong friends, Brenda Bartee, Karen Knight, and loyal goddaughter Carletta McReynolds, of Bay Minette, Alabama along with a host of family and friends.

Even in her final hours, Gloria offered comfort to her loved ones through the lyrics of her favorite song, “I been through the fire and I been through the flood.  Broken in pieces and left all alone. But through it all God blessed me and through it all God kept me, and I still have a praise inside of me.  Yes, I still have a praise inside of me”.

Rest well Gloria. You have been a good and faithful servant.