GLORIA JOYCE CAMPBELL's Obituary
Gloria Joyce Elfreda Campbell December 4, 1929, to March 26, 2025, Gloria Joyce Elfreda Campbell was born in Bensonton, St Ann, Jamaica on December 4, 1929. She was the older of two children born to her parents, Edward and Adelaide Campbell. She was a very bright child, who excelled at school and was so impressed with her teachers, that she decided to become one herself. Gloria attended Moneague Teachers College and later St Joseph's Teachers College, where she pursued a specialty in early childhood education. She taught in a few schools in Jamaica, including Guys Hill Primary and Claksonville Primary. She spent most of her career at Friendship Primary, at times teaching two or three generations in the same families. Ms. Campbell rose to the positions of Vice Principal and Acting Principal, serving Friendship Primary community for more than 30 years. She then worked with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture where she supervised schools before retiring in 1997. Ms. Campbell received numerous awards and commendations for her outstanding service in the field of education. Although a disciplinarian, many of her students recalled how devoted she was to them and her profession. She encouraged them to always do their best and strongly believed that education was a pathway that could open doors for anyone. She also reinforced these values with her family members. Ms. Campbell will be remembered as a servant leader, who led by example. She volunteered frequently at the Spanish Town Methodist Church and numerous other local service organizations. At other times, she provided extra lessons for students who needed additional reinforcement. She taught classes for adults in the community as well. An avid reader and music lover, Ms. Campbell especially enjoyed playing the piano. However, she loved gardening which was readily apparent to anyone who visited her home in Jamaica and later in Georgia. She was known for her love of planning events whether at school, church or in the broader community. Later in life, Ms. Campbell emigrated to the United States to begin her next chapter. She first resided in New York and eventually Georgia, where she lived at the time of her passing. She quickly became a part of her community. She enjoyed her time at Lithonia Senior Center where she participated in many of the activities. Later, at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center, she relished her role on the Site Council and was the person who welcomed all the new members and visitors. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lithonia, Georgia, and was an active participant in the church's activities. When she became homebound during Covid, she continued to attend church services by Zoom, willingly embracing modern technology to do so. This emphasized her openness and willingness to embrace change. Over the last few years, Ms. Campbell, had a few health challenges. However, she was a firm believer in embracing life and living it to the fullest despite the challenges. She especially felt blessed to have celebrated her 95th birthday last year even though she was unable to do so in the way she would have liked because of her limited mobility. Her family, her many students, and friends will testify to the impact Ms. Campbell had during her lifetime through the lives she touched, shaped, or the friendships she made. There is a poem, The Dash, which talks about the time we spend from birth to the time we leave this earth. It explains that our dash represents how we spend our time on earth and how we will be remembered. As such, the poem extols readers to make the most of their dash(es). Ms. Campbell made the most of her dash. She lived a full life. She was a mother, grandmother, sister, friend, teacher, and a good neighbor. She was outspoken, had a fiery personality, and a wry sense of humor. Most of all, she was a God-fearing woman. She may no longer be with us, but her lessons, influences, and life examples will live on in the many lives she has touched or impacted. Left to mourn her passing are daughters, Faith and Sharon, grandchildren: Alexander (Alexis), Ashley, and great grandchildren: Jayla, Isabela and London, and her brother, Copeland, and many dear friends. Our loved one, Gloria Joyce Elfreda Campbell, as she frequently referred to herself, has left us. However, we will not mourn as those who have no hope. She ran a great race, left her footprints, truly embraced her dash, and have now transitioned to be with the Lord. She will be missed. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Celebration of Life Services for Gloria Joyce Campbell will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11AM. These services will be recorded and streamed live. If the event is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire event will be uploaded and available to view later in the day. Please copy and paste the link to share or simply click on the link to view the event.
Gloria Joyce Campbell Celebration of Life Live Streamvimeo.com.
https://vimeo.com/event/5037495
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