Gloria S. McCleary

GLORIA SYLVIA McCLEARY, at age 80, passed away peacefully in her home on June 23, 2017, to be at home with our Lord and Savior in glory. Gloria was born to the late Hyland Railey and Marjorie Hawkins-Railey on June 5, 1937 at University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the oldest girl of nine siblings. She completed high school at Carver Vocational Technical High School and received a diploma in tailoring and designing in June 1956. While at Carver, she loved and played basketball, joined the Vagabonds, and her favorite saying was: "Give me anything eatable,” she does confess, does that account for her slight plumpness? Immediately following graduation, she married David George McCleary, and they moved to San Antonio Texas, where they gave birth to their first child, Byron George (deceased Nov. 2006). Shortly thereafter, the family moved back to Baltimore to continue their life together. She opened a tailoring business at 2119 Pennsylvania Avenue which she managed for over ten years. While working, Gloria and David began to expand their family with the birth of Gisele (Oct. 1958) and Wanda (Dec. 1960); then later moved into their new home at 5442 Lynview Avenue where she resided for over 48 years. In 1969, Gloria began to work as a Teacher's Aide with the Baltimore City Public Schools and for her excellent and dedicated service, she was one of a selected few, among hundreds of applicants, to be awarded a full scholarship in 1971 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in education. She worked as an educator in Baltimore City Public School System for over 32 years, retiring from her high school alma mater, in June 2004. She also worked as an evening teacher at Baltimore City Jail, educating and helping many inmates to receive their GED for over ten years. As a home economics teacher, Gloria cooked and catered for many dignitaries and city officials including the first African American Mayor of Baltimore City, Kurt Smoke. While working at Carver, Gloria and her students received many awards (DECA) for their cooking and hospitality. Not only did Gloria teach culinary arts, she taught the art of tailoring and was especially fond of helping her students prepare for their senior prom which she attended each year as a chaperone. Gloria was known as a world traveler visiting various places with her daughters including Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, and Netherlands), South Korea, Alabama, Virginia, Florida, Texas, the Caribbean Islands and New York. She loved wearing hats and was considered the 'Hat Lady'. She especially loved wearing her Stetson from Texas and every hat she wore was from a different country or state. She loved to cook and especially enjoyed large family gatherings in her home or Virginia where she had large holiday meals. She joined Koinonia Baptist Church in March 2001 and served as President of the Elder's Choir in 2007; member of the Women's Choir; and President of the Ushers’ Ministry. She also volunteered in the after-school program Project Safe Haven while serving at Koinonia Gloria was the family matriarch and was preceded in death by her son, Byron G. McCleary, November 2006. Gloria is survived by: her two daughters, Gisele J. Hunter (Brian) and Wanda S.M. Dandridge (Hunter); five grandchildren, Brian Hunter, Jr. (Tenisha), Dominic Hunter (Ashley), Arlene Kesha Conaway, Hunter Dandridge, V and Constance Dandridge. She leaves seven great-grandchildren, Jonmonatay, Jaivin, Ky'Ann, Chase, Ethan, Colin, Dash, and Izzy-Bea. She was married to David G. McCleary, 23 years. She leaves three siblings, Ronald Hawkins, Elnora Sorrillo (Selwyn), Jerry Railey, and Gregory Railey (Sarah); special cousin and best friend, Sharon Brown; two god-daughters, Yvette Butler and Jennifer Owens; two adopted sons, Domond Thompson and Devin McCleary; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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Gloria S. McCleary

June 5, 1937 - June 23, 2017