Gloria Fontaine Orr ( Ratchford) was born in Gaffney, South Carolina on October 1, 1942, to the late M.B. Ratchford Sr. and Alice C. Ratchford ( Coleman). She was a faithful member of Philadelphia Baptist Church for many years and attended Gaffney public schools. Mrs. Orr graduated from Granard High School in 1960 where she played the trumpet on the school’s marching band.

Mrs. Orr’s affinity for childcare manifested at a young age. One of her earliest and favorite charges was her baby brother, Franklin, affectionately known as “Bae.” During her early twenties, Mrs. Orr made her way north to New Canaan, Connecticut, where she was employed as a live-in nanny before meeting and marrying her soulmate, Johnston Lee Orr Sr., in 1966. This union blessed her with two children, Johnston Lee Orr Jr. and Joyce Denise Orr.

While nurturing her family, Mrs. Orr worked as an electronics assembly technician until the late 1980s, then returned to her original passion and became a daytime nanny for several Connecticut families. Following the loss of her husband in 2003, Mrs. Orr recommitted to serving the Lord and was baptized at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 2019, having retired from childcare, Mrs. Orr joined her son and daughter in Altamonte Springs, Florida. She remained in their loving, caring hands until her passing.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Orr was predeceased by (2) brothers: James Ratchford and M.B. Ratchford Jr., (1) sister: Gayle A. Johnson, and (1) stepson: Barry S. Mitchell.

Her memory will be cherished by her son and daughter; brother, Pastor Franklin Ratchford (Audrey); Columbia, South Carolina; brothers-in-law, Benjamin Orr (Vera); Estill, South Carolina and Rev. Glenn Orr (Deborah); Aiken, SC; sisters-in-law, Lillie Rose Walker (David) and Sara Orr; Hampton, South Carolina; nephew, Franklin Ratchford Jr.; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; nieces: Dr. Amber Ratchford Morales (Erick) and Lindsay Williams (Keith); Columbia, South Carolina, and Melanie Johnson; Maryland; a host of additional family members and friends; and her beloved Christian sisters and brothers of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Stamford, Connecticut and Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Please remember to keep the Orr family lifted in prayer.

“A SERVICE ABOVE SELF”

You may email condolences to: mfrileysfuneralhome@yahoo.com