Gloria Sparrow Overton

Gloria was born on June 9, 1937, in Norfolk, Virginia, daughter of the late Raleigh Eston and Margaret Sears Sparrow. She graduated in 1955 from Norview High School in Norfolk. Gloria met her husband Charles while he was serving in the United States Marine Corps and they were married on December 21, 1958 at Trinity Baptist Church in Norfolk. She was a supervisor at G.E. Mortgage Insurance Company in Raleigh, NC for 32 years retiring in 2002. Gloria was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Gloria was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church for 43 years. For many years she loved working with the preschool choir, singing with the adult and senior adult choirs, teaching exercise classes in the Recreation Outreach Center and being a member of the Willing Hearts Sunday School class. Her hobbies included gardening, baking, taking trips with the senior adults and spending time with her grandchildren whenever possible. Gloria was loved by many for her unique ability to see good in everyone. She was always willing to provide a smile, an encouraging word and offer assistance to others. Testimonies to her legacy are the numerous comments received from family and friends concerning Gloria’s kind acts of caring and encouragement freely given to all.

Gloria is survived by her loving and devoted husband, of 56 years, Charles Overton; daughters, Karen Overton Powell and husband Edward Powell, Jr. of Richmond, VA, and Cheryl Overton Pavlovic and husband Joseph of Zebulon; grandchildren, Kaitlin Powell of Kent, WA, and Austin Powell of Richmond, VA; brothers, Bill Sparrow of Norfolk, VA and Eddie Sparrow and wife, Paula of Suffolk, VA and sister, Patricia Semones and husband, David of Virginia Beach, VA. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Bobby and George Sparrow.

The family will receive friends and family on Monday, February 9, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 10 at Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, with Dr. Jeff Roberts officiating. Burial will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Gloria’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Mae, Charlotte and Linda as well as the staff of Transitions LifeCare (formerly Hospice of Wake County) for their compassionate caring during Gloria’s illness.

Memorial donations in memory of Gloria can be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Preschool at 4815 Six Forks Road or Transitions LifeCare at 200 Hospice Circle in Raleigh.