Gloria M. Ferguson, born July 4, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland, passed away on July 1, 2015, in Huntsville, Alabama.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy F. Lawrence, son James E. Ferguson III, grandchildren including Stephanie Dorman, Andrew, Julia and Sophia Ferguson, great grandson Tyler Kane, and niece Pamela Jones.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, James E. Ferguson, Jr., daughter Valerie Page Cummins, sister Jean Grimes, and brother Ed Murdoch.
Gloria graduated from Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia. As a teenager she performed in USO shows for the servicemen departing for duty in World War II. Her love of music and poetry continued throughout her life. She trained as both a classical and theater organist, and performed at numerous weddings, dinner shows, and other events in the Huntsville area, including the Officer’s Club at Redstone Arsenal. She was a member of the Alabama Guild of Organists and American Theater Organ Society, and enjoyed the opportunity to play the ‘mighty Wurlitzer’ organ at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham. She composed music and wrote lyrics and many poems. With her husband she co-founded the “Almost Dead Poets Society” which met regularly and published an annual anthology for several years. She had a warm and outgoing personality and engaged all those she met in conversation immediately, and often had them laughing in the matter of moments. As she frequently stated, “I’ve been in entertainment all my life!”
Gloria was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. A member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, she loved her Lord Jesus Christ and was ready to meet him in glory.
Arrangements are being handled by Spry Funeral Home, 2411 Memorial Parkway, N.W., Huntsville, Alabama 35810, on visitation at noon and Memorial Service following at 1;00 P.M. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. www.spryfuneralhomes.com
