Gloria Gene (Hower) Bernal of Jacksonville, FL, was born in Gary, IN on January 5, 1935 and went home peacefully to the arms of the Lord on February 6, 2020. She is survived by her best friend forever and the love of her life, Raymundo Bernal Jarquin of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; King of her world, son, Ray (Taye) Bernal of Atlanta, GA; her rose, daughter, Mia (Jim) Rogers of Jacksonville, FL; the sunshine of her life, granddaughter Krista Vera Rogers; bonus grands, Layne (Jenni); Tori (Joshua); Travis (Meriah); bonus great-grands Kinley Noel, and Emmilynn Paige (who shares her birthday); brother-in-law, Nolin (Alma) Bernal of Mexico City; many loving cousins, nephews/ nieces, grandnephews/nieces, other extended relatives, church family, former co-workers and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Victor and Olivia Hower; little brother, Victor "Sonny" Hower, Jr., little sister, Violet Hower James, brother-in-law Octavio Bernal Jarquin and revered Mother-in-law Maria Luisa (Jarquin) Audelo. Very special thanks to her Terrace of Jacksonville and Kissimmee families for taking extra special care of our beloved Glo for the past ten years and Grissom Funeral Home and Crematory, Kissimmee, FL.
Gloria was a humanitarian who championed equality for all. She remained a lover of God’s fur babies, was a hard-working and highly educated businesswoman, an intellectual, overachiever, avid bookworm who never grew tired of learning and never failed to take time out to laugh and enjoy life. She loved the Lord with all of her heart and soul. She graduated from Bishop Noll Institute (Class of 1953), Mexico City College University of the Americas (1957), University of Southern California Intergovernmental Management Program (1983), and Gupton-Jones (a.k.a. Guts & Bones) College of Mortuary Science as a Licensed Funeral Director (1984). Her wide range of careers included pioneering Bi-lingual Education at Garnett Elementary (where she taught the oldest Jackson 5 brothers before they became world famous), Pulaski and Holy Angels Parish Schools. She went on to be appointed as the first woman Executive Director of the Human Relations Commission and directed the Police Community Relations for the City of Gary. She later relocated to Atlanta, GA as Vice President of Urban Crisis to be the Race Relations and Diversity Advisor under Mayor Maynard Jackson for the City of Atlanta and Mead Packaging. She later became Housing Manager-Administrator for the Fulton County Housing Authority. This led to her role for two years as Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, in Washington, DC. Glo relocated to Jacksonville, FL, where she retired as a Bi-lingual Social and Health Counselor for the State of Florida.
A Celebration of Life will be lovingly held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Christ’s Church Mandarin (The Mandarin Room), 6045 Greenland Rd 32258 Jacksonville, FL with Pastor Mark Tyre officiating. The family requests no dreadful, dark attire be worn, rather Glo’s favorite bright & happy BLUE, RED, or floral attire.
In lieu of flowers we ask that you please donate to:
Christ’s Church Mandarin
CHRIST IN YOUTH (CIY) CAMP*
(in Memory of Gloria Bernal)
6045 Greenland Rd 32258
*Your contribution will help a 9-12 grader attend this life-changing event.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18