Gloria Laval Taylor

Gloria Laval Taylor was born on March 9, 1937, to the late Roland Norton and Gertrude Strickland in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the oldest of Gertrude's eleven children and was preceded in death by four younger siblings, Joyce Strickland, Robert Strickland Jr., Henry Norton, and Phyllis Strickland. Gloria was baptized at St. Ann Catholic Church. She was a staunch believer of the faith and lived by the power of prayer. As an elder, she attended mass regularly at St. Alphonsus "Rock" Church, where she was an active and loyal parishioner for over thirty years. Gloria was raised by her grandmother, Anna Goodlet Johnson, whom she lovingly called "Momma." Momma instilled in Gloria the values, sense of community, and moral compass she would personify, embody, and teach throughout the rest of her life. She received her education from the St. Louis Public Schools system, where she graduated from Sumner High School in 1953 with honors at the age of sixteen. She studied at Fontbonne University until 1955. She was united in marriage to King L. Taylor Sr. in 1955. To their union, four children were born. He preceded them in death on October 26, 1986. Gloria believed in the power of passion and purpose led by God's omniscience. "If you just listen, he'll lead you in the right direction," she'd say. As a social entrepreneur passionate about teaching and helping people, she spent most of her career in higher education and social services, including Washington University, UM-St. Louis (UMSL), and Lutheran Family Services. During that time, she also started her own business called "In-Fashion Boutique," which was open from 1973 to 1976. In 1988, her life's purpose came full circle when she co-founded Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) with her long-time friend Betty Lee. Both had worked for the chancellor of UMSL, Marguerite Ross Barnett, an internationally known political scientist and national leader in higher education. Armed with the principles Momma taught her, the mission was clear: help uplift African American women-led households out of poverty, enabling them to return the deed in kind. Like most successful businesses, she started servicing families from her home. However, during Gloria's tenure as Chief Executive Officer of CWAH, she bought the old Cole School Building on 3963 W. Belle Place for $1. Then, she raised over $800,000 to renovate the building and two transitional housing units. Gloria received numerous local, national, and international awards for her service to the community, including the Classic Women Award from Traditional Home, Salute to Excellence in Health Care from the St. Louis American Newspaper, and the Distinctive Women's Award from the Missouri Lottery to name a few. Gloria loved spending time with family and friends and listening to Jazz! She attributed her success to staying faithful to God and herself. She departed this life for heaven on Saturday, November 18, 2023. She will be remembered as a dynamic woman with a gift for storytelling and oratory, who committed her life to helping people simply by applying the lessons Momma taught her. Her commitment to family, friends, and the families she served was unwavering. Gloria never freighted or cared about financial security or capital gain, but rather the uplifting of the community and positively impacting people's lives. She was a civil activist, servant, and warrior against poverty and oppression. She leaves to cherish her memories four children: King L. Taylor Jr., Cynthia Clay (Damon), Stephanie Muldrow (Paul), and Jeffrey L. Taylor Sr. (Tiffany); two grandchildren: Ryan K. Taylor and Jeffrey L. Taylor Jr.; Five siblings: Hester Johnson, Adrian Strickland, Sharon Camp (Kevin), Beverly Harvey (Dale), Judy McCray (Courtney), and Michael Strickland; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Gloria Laval Taylor

March 9, 1937 - November 18, 2023