Gloria J. Blacklock, 78, of Vergennes, passed away at 6:14 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at her daughter's home in Carbondale, Ill.
She was born Oct. 22, 1932, in Pinckneyville, Ill., a daughter to the late James William Jefferson Hickman and Mary Rosella (Fulton) Hickman. She was united in marriage to Ray B. Blacklock on Feb. 16, 1952, in Pinckneyville. He survives of Vergennes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Virginia (Charles) Heidtman; and one brother, Jerry (Barbara) Hickman.
Surviving are two sons, Daniel Blacklock and Roger (Sherry) Blacklock, both of Vergennes; two daughters, Sheryl (Thomas) Menold of Peoria and Barbara (John Ham) Blacklock of Carbondale, Ill.; two grandchildren, Alaina and Elizabeth Ham; five stepgrandchildren; Jennifer Hanna, Steven Farmer, Matthew (Brittany) Farmer, Amy (Kurt) Sells and Emily (Jeff) Morgan; seven great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Clodine Dunn of Venice, Fla., Joyce Kuhnert of Pinckneyville, Ill., and Sylvia (Charles) Clark of St. Charles, Mo.; and one brother-in-law.
Gloria was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She was an inspiration to her family, friends and those she worked for and with around the world.
She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Vergennes, Ill. Her involvement with her church led her to serve in many capacities in the organization of The United Methodist Women's Division. She was president of the former Southern Illinois Conference for four years. She then served as vice president and later president of the United Methodist Church Women's Division Board of Global Ministries for a total of eight years. She traveled around the world for The Women's Division, working for the benefit of women and children.
Services will be held at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Vergennes at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in the Murdale Gardens of Memory near Murphysboro.
Memorials are encouraged and may be made to the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, 475 Riverside Drive, NY, NY 10115. To send a condolence or for additional information, visit www.crawshawfuneralhome.com