Gloria Bethea

The life of Gloria Annetta Parker Williams Huntley Bethea began on Monday, March 11th, 1940, and lasted until the Angels came for her on Thursday September 28th, 2023. Goria was born in Greenville, SC to Marcus Annette Parker Anderson (Joseph, Sr.) and Hannah Needham. She was adopted and raised by family members, Zodie and Christine Williams. She was an Atkins High School and Bennett College scholar and graduate. 

She was a retired K-12 and exceptional children certified school teacher. She taught in Raleigh (Wake County), High Point City Schools and Randolph County School System for twenty-seven years. During her tenure, she was a head basketball and assistant volleyball coach. She also set-up a supply closet with personal hygiene items to benefit students in school.

Gloria loved to sing and act and all who knew her talent thought that she would go to New York or Hollywood in pursuit of her dream. She was also an avid reader and kept up with current and historical events as well as a poet. Gloria was very artistic and creative. She invented crafts and educational games to help children thrive. Her creative work of art was published in the newspaper and her innovative games were used in the classroom and for pro-bono tutoring services that she established.

Gloria received many accolades in her life including receiving an honorary Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. award and she worked with Teen Lift. She was an advocate for women who experienced domestic violence which included providing clothing for the victims and their families, as they regrouped to move forward from the traumatic experience. Gloria was a 1998 recipient and honoree of the International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women for her significant Career Achievements and Contributions to Society.

She was converted at an early age and joined First Calvary Baptist Church where she served as an active member of the church. She was a former choir member and Missionary Chairperson of Greater First United Baptist Church. While she served as the Women’s Day chairperson, she also helped to establish a sewing club.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She dearly loved her only daughter, Robin Anita Huntley Bristow, birth name Faith Christina, bonus son, Randall Sr., her grandchildren, Randall Jamal Jr. and Ryan Anthony as well as her family and friends and former students with all of her heart. She was preceded in death by both of her husbands Robert Lee Huntley and Maceo Bethea and her siblings Shirley Price (Ralph) and Joseph D. Anderson, Jr. (Alice). In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is also survived by her siblings: Gwendolyn Merideth (James), Frederick Anderson (Marla), Ruth Reese (Leroy), Deria Gadsden (Ronald), Patrice Franklin (Gene), Catherine Killabrew (James), and Robbin Lewis (Nathan) and her brother-in-law Ralph Price.

Mrs. Bethea also has a host of other relatives and friends whose undying love sustained her for many years.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Greater First United Baptist Church, 1409 Deep River Road, High Point, NC.  The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.  A burial will follow at Piedmont Memorial Gardens. In every effort to protect our families, protective facial coverings are mandatory requirements.

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