Gloria Lyons Arterberry

Reflections of Life

“For me to live is Christ” Philippians 1:21

Gloria Lyons Arterberry, the eldest daughter of Wallace and Thelma Locklear, was born on March 4, 1943.  To allow her parents to pursue work up and down the coast, Gloria was later adopted by her aunt and Uncle Joseph and Letha Lyons.  Gloria was baptized at an early age and joined St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church of Avon Park, Florida.

She graduated from EO Douglas High School in 1960. Following high school, she began her formal education at Florida Memorial College in St. Augustine, Florida and in 1964 received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Gloria returned to Avon Park, FL and began teaching at Avon Park Elementary School.

In the mid 1960’s, Gloria relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she taught at Hollywood Park Elementary School. While in Fort Lauderdale, she became a very active member of First Baptist Church Piney Grove, where she served in the choir, taught Sunday school, played the piano for the youth choir, and served on many of the church’s theatrical productions.  It was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she met and married the late Rev. Ernest W. Arterberry on August 1, 1968. To their loving union two children were born, Ernest W. Arterberry II and Joseph D. Arterberry.

Gloria and her new family returned to Avon Park during the summer of 1980 where she continued her passion of teaching.  Gloria was known to push her students to meet their full potential. She would not accept nor allow students to believe that they were not as smart as anyone else. On several occasions she opened her home to tutor students that may have needed additional attention.  She believed that every child should have the fundamentals of reading mastered before leaving her classroom.  To that end, she used her innovation and passion to create curriculums for her classroom. Her grandchildren and other young family members often became her passion projects away from the classroom as well.  Gloria retired from teaching in 1996 but remained an educator at heart and tutored for several years after retirement.

On October 20, 2020, Gloria departed this life and went home to be with the Lord. She is preceded in death by her parents, Wallace & Thelma Locklear and Joseph & Letha Lyons.   Her devoted husband of 38 years, Rev. Ernest Arterberry I, her brother, Charles E. Rushing and her sister, Catherine C. Venning.

Those left to cherish Gloria’s memory are her loving sons, Ernest Arterberry II (Marie) and Joseph Arterberry (Cassandra). 7 Grandchildren: Jacquez Arterberry, Dominic Arterberry, Danielle Arterberry, Kianna Talley, Joseph Arterberry II, Jordan Arterberry and Deven Arterberry.

Sisters and Brother: Herbert Boone (Maxine), Wallace Locklear (Mary), Ordell Roe and Vera Locklear.

Aunt: Clara Boone, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Arrangements entrusted to:

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home

111 E. Circle St.

Avon Park, FL  33825

Online condolences may be left at:

www.stephensonnelsonfh.com