Mrs. Gloria Jackson Elliott was born on Wheeler Hill in the family home at 215 Bull Street on August 15, 1931. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Carrie Monroe Jackson.  Gloria attended Saxon Elementary School and is a 1952 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School where she was a cheerleader, on the national honor society, and active in other clubs and organizations. Gloria also briefly attended Midlands Technical College. She departed this life on the afternoon of Saturday, October 7, 2017.

Early in life, Gloria joined Gilbert Memorial Baptist Church when it was on Wheeler Hill and was a 55-year member.  She continued to serve actively with that church when it moved to the Edisto Court Community. In that location, she helped to build the Sunday School program by canvassing the community, inviting children and their parents to attend the church. She taught Sunday School; organized the first Junior Missionary Society; led the youth group in drama; and was a member of the choir. At the time of her passing, she was a member of Solomon's Temple in Columbia.

She married the love of her life, Tharald W. Elliott, on March 8, 1954. To this union, three daughters were born. Tharald was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967. A housewife for many years, Gloria was eventually employed by Richland School District One through the Title One Program as a Community Liaison at Booker T. Washington and A.C. Flora High Schools. When that program ended, she became an instructional assistant for a special educational class at Crayton Middle School. In 1995, she retired after 25 years of service to Richland School District One and set out to enjoy her retirement.

Gloria served as the secretary for the BTW Class of 1952; served 25 years as the financial secretary of the Mt. Hebron Association; was a one-time member of the Palmetto Elks Lodge; was a charter member of the Zeta Phi Beta, Beta Beta Zeta Chapter Amicae, where she served as chaplain; and was on the program committee of the Little Miss Amicae pageant.  Many children from Washington Park and Gilbert participated in this pageant.  It was her love for children and her community that propelled her to be active in the Washington Park Association and to be an encourager of children in the community.

Gloria leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory three daughters: Crissandra L. Elliott, DeJaris L. Elliott, and Sheila L. Elliott; one grandson, Tharald C. (Melissa) Elliott; four great-grandsons: Shari White, Corey White, Tharald C. Elliott, Jr., and Jackson C. Elliott; one great-great granddaughter, Mackenzie Olivia White; four sisters: Mary Francis Williams, Lucy (Lyles) Williams, Jeanette Haskell, Shirley Ellison, and Denise (John) Wood who resides in Philadelphia; two brothers: Henry (Pat) Breeland, Thomas (Betty) Jackson, and Heyward Matthews and Robert (Dawn) Jackson, who both also reside in Philadelphia. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, and special friends: Cynthia Pratt, Delores Weeks, Lucy Goodson, Lorine Boykin; and her goddaughter, Venita Faye Bland.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was predeceased by her youngest brother, Vaughn Jackson of Columbia.