Gloria Gwen Frazier

Gwen was born in Raleigh, NC, on April 4, 1959, to Clarence and Rebecca Frazier, both of whom preceded her in death. Gwen is survived by her brother Rex (Jennie) Frazier, sisters Ann Frazier and Angela (Tom) Perry, and friend and partner Kim France. She also is survived by nephews Tommy and Blake Perry and Brad (Mandy) Frazier, niece Jen (John) Mitchell, and great nephews Cole and Ty Mitchell.

A talented athlete, Gwen attended UNC-Chapel Hill on a softball scholarship and was an ardent lifelong Tarheel. Professionally, she founded and led a marketing firm in Raleigh for many years and later became marketing director for a company in the Research Triangle Park.

Gwen’s second act, as she liked to call it, was her heart’s calling. As a committed and dedicated human rights and human service advocate, in 2012 Gwen founded the Helen Little Haiti Foundation, with the mission to help lift mothers and children out of poverty in Haiti. As the foundation’s Executive Director, Gwen’s insight, knowledge, and selfless work, along with her mentor, Helen Little, and her Haitian team members, have made an important difference in countless lives through educational, economic, agricultural, and community development initiatives, among many other programs. She also served as a board member for the Ryan Epps Home for Children, a safe haven for orphaned boys and girls in Haiti; the Women’s Leadership Council, which supports the United Way of the Greater Triangle’s efforts to build stronger communities for the betterment of women; the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church (NCCUMC) Missions; and Camp Kesem, a college student-run summer camp for kids whose parents have or have had cancer. Her life’s work demonstrated a strong and consistent desire to serve others.

Gwen was an effortlessly kind person, with an open, curious mind, a great sense of humor, a love and appreciation of nature—especially the ocean at her beloved Topsail Island—and, above all, a generous heart. She lived her life to the fullest with enthusiasm for the joy life, friends, and family could bring. She was loved and will be missed by everyone she touched with her humanity.

A Celebration of Life for Gwen will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Macedonia Methodist Church, 2700 Jones Franklin Road, Cary, NC 27518. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the service following at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Helen Little Haiti Foundation, 3833 Hidden Branches Drive, Raleigh, NC 27613.