A Time to be Born: Gloria Jean Washington was born on December 22, 1945 to the late Harry and Mary Haynes Nokes in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She was the youngest of three children in which her two older brother preceded in death, Adolphus Johnson, Jr. and Sargent Major Willie Johnson. Gloria, was lovingly called "Betty" by her family.
A Time to Live: Gloria's father Harry served in the US Army during World War II. After his honorable discharge. The Nokes family moved from Orangeburg, South Carolina to Washington, DC in the 1950s. Gloria attended DC public schools and graduated from Eastern High School in 1964. She attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. After graduation in 1965, she started her federal government career at the Securities Exchange Commission. In 1967, she began working for the Selective Service System as a Secretary where she worked for 9 years. She was promoted in March of 1967 and began working for the US Agency for International Development as a Secretary. She worked as the Senior Executive Assistant to the Administrator until June 2009 when she retired with 42 years of federal government service.
While working at the Selective Service System, she met her loving husband, the late Reverend Paul Washington, Sr. They were united in holy matrimony on April 11, 1970 at Canaan Baptist Church, Washington, DC. God blessed their family with two loving children, a daughter, Stephanie Nicol and a son, Paul, Jr.
Gloria gave her life to Christ at an early age in South Carolina. She and her family later joined the First Baptist Church of Highland Park, Landover, MD under the late Dr. James C. Wyatt in 1970. Her son Paul Jr, won first place in the church's Baby contest in 1972 at the tender age of 6 months. Her service with the Deaconess board began in the early seventies. During her service on the Deaconess board she served as President in the early 1980s. During her tenure, she arranged for the purchase of new baptismal gowns and robes for candidates that were to be baptized and new communion trays and linen. The Deaconess Board was later combined with the Deacon Board and became the Deacon ministry. Deacon Washington sang with the Chorale Ensemble for many years. The choir was later combined with the Lucy Wyatt Choir and eventually became the Lucy Wyatt Sanctuary Choir in the mid-2000s. She was a faithful member of the December Birthday Ministry, even attending her last meeting by conference call on November 7, 2020. When she wasn't serving as a Deacon on second-Sunday, or singing in the choir, Deacon Washington was always dressed elegantly all the way to her stylish hats. She always received many compliments on her outfits and with matching hats.
Gloria loved to travel. Her daughter Stephanie started traveling for her job and took her mom with her on some trips. Gloria loved the airplane's takeoff and descending before landing. She was always so excited when she was about to travel that she would tell everyone she could that she was about to go on travel with Stephanie.
Deacon Washington left her mark on the world and in the hearts of everyone that knew her. She made a difference by show she lived and worked. She cherished life and was very humble in everything that she did. God blessed her with wisdom and everyone came to her for advice. She was a very loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a good friend to her friends and co-workers. She loved everyone. She would tell her son and daughter that they had many "adopted brothers and sisters", and she would call everyone "Puddin", it didn't matter if you were young or old. Her family loved her southern cooking, especially her "Collard Greens". Whenever anyone had a family event, she would get the call for "Aunt Gloria's Collard Greens."
A Time to Die: Early Sunday morning, November 22, 2020, God called Deacon Washington home from her earthly home to reside in the mansion of her Heavenly Father prepared for her. She is reunited with all of her family and friends who have gone before her.
A Time to Mourn: Deacon Gloria Washington leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted children, daughter Stephanie; son, Paul Jr. (Latrice); seven grandchildren -- Reginald (Arkea), Sargent Michael, Mario (Andrea), Genesis, Elijah, Tanae, and Paris; four great-grandchildren -- Zynovia Ayrriana, Aiden James, Gabriel, James, and Noah Elijah; four sisters-in-law -- Elizabeth Bellamy, Ella Washington, Carrie Beard, and Cathy Washington; two brothers-in-law -- Nathaniel Washington (Victoria) and Jessie Washington; one faithful and loving aunt -- Cora Lee Haynes; adored and caring niece -- Rose Marie Edwards (Craig); Goddaughter -- Jaqueline Lawrence; Play-son -- Maurice Robinson; a host of relatives, nieces, nephews, adopted sons and daughters and very close friends.
Deacon Gloria Washington will be sadly missed by all who knew her because of her warm motherly nature, gentle spirit, and kind and loving ways. She was good and faithful servant to God and served her church well. Rest in Peace Mom, your family will carry on the family name and traditions until we see you again in Heaven.
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