Gloria Wall

Obituary For Gloria Wall

Gloria “Gogo” Swanson Wall, age 91, passed away on December 23, 2016 at Duke Medical Center in Durham. Born in Candor, North Carolina on December 19th, 1925, she was the younger of two children born to Michael Wall and Tommie Clyburn Anderson. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Clifton (Lucretia). Gloria attended grade school and high school in Hamlet, North Carolina and secretarial school and college in New York. She worked as a legal secretary, an executive secretary and a medical secretary where she authored grants for thousands of dollars in aid and services. In 1967, she gave birth to daughter, Kathryn Christine, whom she raised in New York City with the help of her mother. Gloria gave her daughter a wonderful childhood, sending her to the best schools and taking her on memorable trips. It was important to her, that she graduate from college before her daughter, so she completed the weekend program at Elizabeth Seton College and earned her degree in 1984. A few years later, she had the pleasure of watching her daughter graduate from New York University. Gloria retired from her executive position at Columbia University in 1987. She moved to Durham in 1990 where she thwarted retirement and worked part time at Duke University. She continued a home business as a Mary Kay beauty consultant and began authoring poetry and plays. She volunteered for the Durham Rescue Mission and was Diabetic Health Ambassador. She joined Yates Baptist Church, where she made a number of wonderful friends who supported her love of Bible stories. She was most proud the stage play she wrote and produced at the age of 86, based on the story of Esther. A full-fledged production, starring members of her church, the play was performed to a sold out audience. Gloria remained active in her church up until her recent illness. Gloria will be remembered for her love of her family, most especially her beloved granddaughters Ava and Giulia. Nothing pleased her more to celebrate and share their love of performing and visual arts. She was their best friend and they hers. She will be missed and remembered for her generous spirit. Gloria is survived by her daughter, Kathryn (David) of New York; two granddaughters Ava and Giulia of New York; great aunt Hope of St. Louis; nephews Clifton “Butch” Wall, Jr. (Wilma) of New York, Stanley Wall (Wanda) of Panama City; two first cousins, Ronald Clyburn (Sylvia) of Pocomoke City; Alice Crockett of Maryland Heights; 1 great niece; 2 great nephews and a host of cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 28, 2016, at Yates Baptist Church, with the Rev. Christopher Ingram, and John Frederick officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following interment. It was Gloria’s wish that contributions be made in her name to the Yates Baptist Church building fund, 2819 Chapel Hill Road, Durham 27707.