Gloria Claudien Wright-McCollum

Gloria Claudien Grigsby Wright-McCollum was born on May 27, 1929 in Greenville, Mississippi to the union of Robert and Lizzie Grigsby. She was the fourth of nine siblings. Gloria was educated in the Greenville, Mississippi School System. In 1949, she came to Chicago, Illinois continuing her education getting degrees from Louis University, Olive Harvey College and Cook County School of Nursing. As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), she worked at Evergreen Nursing Home and South Chicago Hospital (Trinity Hospital). A few years later her career heightened as a Registered Nurse (RN) working at Cook County Hospital as both a RN and Nurses Coordinator. Transferring to the University of Illinois Hospital, she became Head Nurse and Supervisor of the operating room unit until she retired in 1991 to help raise her great grandsons. Gloria studied the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. She dedicated her life to Jehovah and symbolized her dedication through water baptism on April 6, 1973. She served served as a full time pioneer from January 9, 1987 until her death. She felt great joy in sharing the kingdom truths with others. Through the years she has conducted many Bible studies, but in April 2012 she was very happy to be conducting a Bible study with her daughter, Barbara, she was assisted by Christine and occasionally Gwendolyn would sit in. Gloria also volunteered her nursing skills at the Christian conventions and assemblies, helping in the first aid department. Gloria met and married Frank Wright. They took their children and grandchildren on trips every year and continued that tradition when they adopted their great grandsons, Joseph, Joshua and Jerrod, after the death of their grandmother, her daughter, Gloria Dean. On May 1, 1993, Gloria married Clyde McCollum Jr., who was also a Jehovah's Witness. Together they enjoyed sharing the Kingdom truths with others and traveling. Gloria had a love for family. She never missed a family reunion, no matter what state it was in. She loved dancing, reading, watching game shows and quiz shows, taking vacations and talking to her only sister, Estella E. Timms at least twice a week. Her passion was talking about Jehovah God and passing out literature. On October 7, 2012 Gloria fell asleep in death at Desert Springs Hospital in Nevada. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Clyde McCollum Jr. on October 11, 2011 and Frank Wright; her parents, Robert and Lizzie; her brothers, John, Robert Jr., and Maurice; her sisters, Queen Ester, Annette, Janie Mae and Ceola "Sisterbaby"; her sons, John Timothy and Frederick Douglas; her daughters, Miriam Jenise, Gloria Dean, Carolyn Marie and Annette Ernestine; grandchildren, LaTiya Renee, Veronica Pearl and Malcolm Wesley Jr; great grandchildren, Montate Jr., Toya Lynn and Timothy Jr. Gloria leaves to cherish her memories, 3 daughters, Gwendolyn (Lawrence), Barbara (Ernest) and Christine; 1 son, Reginald (Everdane); 1 sister, Estella E. Timms; 1 brother-in-law, Robert (Catherine) McCollum; 19 grandchildren, Vanessa (Latrone), Quintella (Carl), Miriam, Montate (Andrea), Antonio (Toya), Sharbee (Kimberly), Lakiya (Andrew), Lashawna (Ralph), Latonya (Eddie), Timothy (Tanisha), TyJuan (Kim), Terrance, William, Jessie, Sherese, Sharee, Katie, Greg and Jackie; 47 great grandchildren; 23 great-great grandchildren; sons-in-law, Malcolm Sr. and Willie; play daughters, Patricia Lurry and Wilma Gates; special friends, Alfolonia Moore, Gwinetta Washington her pioneer partner, Alice Meeks; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Gloria Claudien Wright-McCollum

May 27, 1929 - October 7, 2012