Ms. Gloria Alston

Gloria Dean Alston, Dean to those who knew her well, was one of 8 children born to the parentage of R.L. Wilkinson, Sr. and Beulah Scott-Wilkinson. She often regaled us with her colorful account of their family life in the 1940’s and 1950’s and should she have put pen to paper, would no doubt have published one best seller after another. Oftentimes, we mere mortals find ourselves in situations where after the fact we think of a cleverer response, but not Gloria. She was quick thinking-very likely had her response ready before you even finished your sentence. If verbal judo were an Olympic sport, she would have brought home the Gold! Equal to her verbal skills was her manner of attire. She was meticulous from her foundation to her outerwear. Whatever she donned seemed as if it was made just for her by her own personal designer.

After graduating from the historic I.M. Terrell High School in 1961, she enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. It was there that she met and married the father of her daughters, Robin Renee’ and Helen Elizabeth and then relocated to Pennsylvania. Their union ended during a time when many things changed for women, including roles in the workforce. Gloria befriended a woman by the name of Mary Walker who had a vision to establish a credit union for people of color and together they organized and operated the Hill District Federal Credit Union in 1970-which is still in existence today. Gloria thrived in her new position and provided her daughters a roadmap to success… having a vision and doing the hard work without sacrificing what was important to her-faith and family. Gloria’s friendship with Mary, born in 1918 (just a year younger than her own mother), lasted until Mary’s passing in 2011. Perhaps this is where the seed to become an advocate for the elderly was planted.

As her mother aged, Gloria, then married Wayne Alston, Sr. and decided to return to Texas (thank you for agreeing Wayne Lee) to be near her. Here she continued to strive-with her husband’s encouragement-to return to school to get her Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Along the

way she found time to work for the United Way, both the Fort Worth and Arlington Salvation Army Shelters, complete certifications for Long Term Care, attended Tyndale Theological Seminary, become a Licensed Social Worker and obtained a Chaplain Certification. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No….. it is SUPERWOMAN!!!!!

Gloria retired so many times that we just stopped counting. She was so well respected in the social work network that someone would name-drop/recommend her and off she would go again to work her magic.

Wayne Alston, Sr. and Gloria were married for 42 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, R.L. Wilkinson, Sr. and Beulah Scott-Wilkinson and siblings, Dessa, Ethel Mae, Precious, R.L. Jr., Leroy and Jimmy. Left with cherished memories are her husband, Wayne Lee; daughters, Robin and Helen; brother Larry; grandchildren, Steven (Tiffany), Vaughn, Kailyn, Brien, Nicholas and Tasia (Mollie); great-grandchildren, Breyonce and Aniyah; niece, Lynn; and a host of other family.