Gloria Dean Slack Ledford Ellis, 80, of Georgetown, TN, died Monday, February 25, 2013.
Gloria was a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She gave her life to serve Jesus her Savior, to build His Kingdom, and to serve the family that He gave to her. Gloria was born to Thomas Abraham Slack and Mamie Mary Kirksey Slack on October 14, 1932. She spent her childhood years mainly living in East Chattanooga. During her childhood, Gloria enjoyed acting in many plays, tap dancing, and playing the violin. She graduated from Chattanooga Central High School in 1950 where she was an honor student and was the first chair violinist in the orchestra. Shortly after graduating, she began working at DuPont where she met her first husband, the late Pastor Glenn Ledford. They had three boys, David, Danny and Timothy. As an adult, Gloria fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning her very own piano and learning to play both the piano and organ. After God called Glenn to serve Him as a pastor, Gloria and Glenn moved to Georgetown, to serve the community at Georgetown Baptist Church, where they remained for 11 years. Upon the unexpected death of Glenn in 1975, Gloria went on to put herself through nursing school and become a R.N. In 1979, she was married to her second husband, the late Andrew Ellis. Gloria and Andy enjoyed serving their Lord together, going to the beach, camping, and having the growing family into their home on any possible occasion. Mrs. Ellis served in VBS for over 60 years, taught innumerable children’s and young adult’s Sunday School classes, educated girls and instilled a love for missions in their hearts through Girls in Action, served as librarian for the church library, and sang in the choir until she began playing the organ.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Slack and Mamie Mary Kirksey Slack; husbands, Glenn Ledford and Andrew Ellis; and great-grandson, Elijah Glenn Swafford.
Surviving family includes sons and daughters-in-law, David and Carolyn Ledford, Danny and Deborah Ledford and Tim and Sheri Ledford; grandchildren, Melvin and April Ledford Swafford, Amy Ledford Garren, Paul and Ashley Ledford Stamps, Jeff and Laura Ledford Cunningham, Allen and Kelli Ledford Earhart and Clay Keller; and great-grandchildren, Robbie and Blake Garren, Callie Grace and Josiah Swafford, and Joshua and Lily Cunningham.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 28, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Earl Farris and Pastor Melvin Swafford officiating. Interment will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens with Jeff Cunningham, Clay Keller, Robbie Garren, Jr., Allen Earhart, Paul Stamps and Blake Garren serving as pallbearers.
Her family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 27, at the Ralph Buckner Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.