Obituary of Gloria Bell Douglass

Gloria Bell Wynn Douglass, born on November 19, 1929, in Baltimore, MD. She returned to her Creator, God Almighty, on June 10, 2020. She is preceded by her husband, Leander E. Douglass, Sr. mother, Lillian Cager and son Frederick Douglass, Jr. On December 25, 1946, she married Leander Eldridge Douglass, Sr., and from that union, they had six children. Gloria accepted Christ in August 1939 at Faith Baptist Church, Baltimore, Maryland. She was very active as a leader assuming roles as Committee Secretary of Christian Education, Golden Age ministry, and Sunday School teacher. She also sang in the church choir as a tenor. Mommy always had faith in God and instilled it in all her children and grandchildren. She attended Dunbar High School, where she received her high school diploma while carrying her 5th child. Along with her husband, she was very active as part of the C.A.A. (Community Action Agency) and C.O.R.E. (Council of Racial Equality). She was a progressive woman of her time, in the early 1960s, she was the first African-American hired as a cashier in McCrory's Five and Dime, downtown Baltimore city. She was a P. T. A. president at Winston Elementary School, where she received a lifetime membership from the National P. T. A. for her outstanding leadership. Gloria was employed as a caseworker with the Department of Social Services for 25 years. After retiring, she worked at the Baltimore Zoo and as a school cafeteria aide at St. Elizabeth School. She was an avid football fan especially the Baltimore Colts and Ravens. Her favorite Colt player was Lenny Moore, and he honored her by attending her 70th birthday celebration in her home. She was ecstatic and surprised! It was beautiful. She loved to dance. She was famous for her "camel walk." She loved all kinds of music, Gospel, Big Band, R&B some Opera, and pop. Some of her favorite singers were Joe Williams, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole and others. Mommy had a song for every comment made. She leaves to celebrate her life, five children, Leander (Douglass) Rahmaan, Tony Douglass, Leah Abdul-Saboor, Tyrina Hardiman, and Jamahl (Douglass) Rahmaan. Daughters in-law Jan Rahmaan, Dalia Rahmaan, and son-in-law Fletcher Hardiman. Twenty grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, five great-great children. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.