“She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto HER.” Proverbs 3:15
Gloria June (McKinney) Shrewsbury, 66, who loved to be called Momaw, departed her loving children and grandchildren to be home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at the Bowers Hospice House following a long illness.
Born May 30, 1955 at Bud, she was the daughter of the late Giles Shirley McKinney and Betty Joyce McKinney.
Gloria was a faithful member of the Herndon Freewill Baptist Church for 48 years where she and her husband, Gary, dedicated her life to the Lord on October 7, 1973. Gloria served the Lord as a member of the church choir, a former Sunday school teacher, a former children’s church teacher, she took great pride in her responsibility as the church directory writer and she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary.
She retired from Jackie Withrow Hospital after 27 years and devoted her life to her husband, her children and her grandchildren.
After 41 years of marriage, her loving husband, Gary, went on to be with his Lord and Savior only 3 months after suffering the loss of her own mother, Betty.
Gloria was the model of strength, courage and pure love as her loving children and grandchildren surrounded her through the last 5 years.
Mommy longer for Heaven. She is in the presence of our Almighty God, she is strolling with Daddy and she finally got to talk to her mommy again.
We are rejoicing that she suffers no more.
In addition to her husband, Gary and her mother, Betty, former Pastor William O. Tolliver awaited her on the other side, along with her paternal and maternal grandparents, a host of her aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and several family members.
Also there to greet her were so many dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, and children of her own gathering together to greet her at the gates.
Those left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Andrea Saunders, husband, and son-in-law, Chris, Allison Norris, Husband and son-in-law, Todd, both of Mullens and her one son Cameron Shrewsbury, wife and daughter-in-law, Becky of Bud.
Gloria was an extremely proud momaw and treasured her time with her loving grandchildren: Emily and Sarah Saunders, Audrey and Lora Beth Steele, Micah, Katie, and Kaden Norris; Krista and Kelsa Hughes and Tyler Bragg; one great granddaughter, Reagan Hughes.
Our mother was blessed with a beloved brother-in-law, Virgil A. Shrewsbury, Jr. and his loving wife and sister-in-law, Lila of Bud; two very special and always present friends and sisters in Christ, Joyce Saunders and Tyanna Norris. She had one brother, Darryl Keith McKinney.
Gloria made her wishes known to her children, Pastor Richard Massie and only weeks before his own untimely passing, the late former Pastor William O. Tolliver.
In honoring her wishes, services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Herndon Freewill Baptist Church, Herndon with Pastor Richard Massie officiating and an honored member of her family, Charles A. McKinney, Jr., who mommy loved dearly, will deliver the opening to our mother’s services.
Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour prior to services Tuesday at church.
Mommy and Daddy were so good to us, as her place beside him has long been reserved, deliberately placed only a few steps away from her own mommy and daddy.
She spoke to us the names of her own pallbearers. Those honored to deliver our mother to her resting place will be her loved and only son, Cameron Shrewsbury, both of her trusted and adored sons-in-law, Todd Norris and Christopher Saunders, her sweet grandson, Kaden Norris, her dear friends and family member, Kevin Rasmussen, and her dear friend and cousin, Dennis Cox.
Her children would like to thank every member, both brothers and sisters, of the Herndon Freewill Baptist that attended there anytime between 1974 and November 2021. She loved her church family.
David Wood and Bri Wood Cook of Tankersley Funeral Home.
Bowers Hospice House for providing comfort and care to our mother and her children.
The following organizations: Raleigh County Head Start, The City of Mullens, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and Jackie Withrow Hospital.
Andrea and Allison wish to publicly express a special and deeply personal thank you to Jenny Fralin, Kari Walker-Sizemore, and Laura Sizemore. You each left your own special impression on our mommy until the day she left us.
Together we are so thankful to Sister Ann Tolliver, Brother Buddy Tolliver, Chastity (Johnston) Basille and Sister Virginia Blankenship for helping us honor our mother and her wishes.
We will met you at the river, mommy.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tankersleyfh.com.
The family of Gloria Shrewsbury is being cared for by Tankersley Funeral Home, Mullens.