Gloria Synthia Jones Simmons was born on March 26, 1946, to the late Ida Mae Jones Sutton. Many happy memories for Gloria and her brother Earl were created in the home of their adopted mother Eva Campbell and her family.

Gloria attended Murray Hill Elementary School and graduated from Bonds Wilson High School in 1964. She played Alto and French horns in her high school band. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from South Carolina State College in 1968. While attending State she became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

On November 30, 1969, she was joined in holy matrimony to Teddy Simmons, Jr. of North Charleston, South Carolina. They were happily married for over 51 years until her passing on June 6, 2021. Gloria and Teddy were blessed with two sons, Teddy III and Theo Ryan.

Gloria was employed by the Charleston County School System for two years prior to she and Teddy relocating to East Lansing, Michigan. She worked at Michigan State University as an Executive Assistant until her retirement. She continued to work and volunteer much of her free time to several non-profit organizations after retirement. Gloria was a member of Mask Memorial C.M.E. Church. She was an extraordinarily gifted seamstress, loved to cook, and was a big Michigan State Spartan fan.

Gloria leaves to cherish her memories: her devoted and beloved husband, Teddy, Jr. of East Lansing, MI; her sons, Teddy III and his wife Laura of Lansing, MI and Theo Ryan of Portland, OR; three grandchildren, Ronnie, Cameron and Teddy IV and three great grandchildren; three brothers, Earl Jones of Bronx, NY, Arthur Sutton, Jr., and Robert Sutton of Charleston, SC and one sister Marlene Sutton Brown of N. Charleston, SC; five sisters-in-law, Mary Gourdine of Buford, GA, Fredericka (Levi) Bowman of Conyers, GA, Elnora Scott of Ft. Washington, MD, Joan Simmons of N. Charleston, SC, Debra Simmons of Smyrna, GA; a very special cousin, Terry Seabrook of Charleston, SC, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.