Gloria Holt

Gloria Eurton Holt, age 73, died in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday, August 28, 2013.

Gloria was born September 21, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late James W. and Thelma Stephens Eurton. She attended Ensley High School and graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1978. Gloria married Zollie F. Holt, Jr. on April 4, 1959. She lived with her husband in Trussville, Alabama, and was a member of ClearBranch United Methodist Church. She was a faithful servant of God and the United Methodist Church community. Gloria will be remembered for many contributions locally, regionally, and nationally. She served on various committees at Huffman United Methodist Church and ClearBranch United Methodist Church. She served as President of United Methodist Women and District Lay Leader of Birmingham East, and then went on to become Conference Lay Leader for nine years. She has headed the legislation to General Conference since 2000. In the Southeastern Jurisdiction, Gloria served as President of Jurisdictional Conference Lay Leaders and was chair of the Committee on Episcopy. On the General Conference level, she served on UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), was Director of Church and Society, Director of Global Ministries, President of General Conference Lay Leaders, and served on the United Methodist Development Fund. Gloria used every opportunity for ministry. Several years ago, she made a mission trip to Africa where she contracted malaria. Recovering from severe illness, she used this experience as an incentive to join the "Imagine no Malaria" campaign, during which she led her local community in raising money for mosquito nets in Africa. As a result of Gloria's unending commitment to the United Methodist community, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity at Birmingham Southern College in 2012. She was a strong, tenacious, and generous woman with the kindest of hearts. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by many. Gloria is survived by her beloved spouse Zollie F Holt, Jr; two children: Melody (Heath) Hart and Zollie F. Holt, III; two sisters: Beverly Lindahl and Joy Rushing; five grandchildren: Ashley (Christopher) Mullins, Erin (Travis) McDonald, Tyler Compton, Christian Holt, and Madison Holt; and one great-granddaughter: Elaina McDonald. Relatives and friends are welcome for visitation at ClearBranch United Methodist Church, 8051 Glenn Road Trussville, Alabama, on Friday, August 30, 2013. 6-8 pm. Services will be held at ClearBranch United Methodist Church on Saturday August 31, 2013, at noon. Burial will be at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville, Alabama. In lieu of flowers we ask that you make donations to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. A donation page in loving memory of Gloria can be found at following web address: http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/Events/HeadquartersSite?pg=fund&fr_id=1120&pxfid=269579

Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.