Gloria Gardner Wilkinson

Gloria Gardner Wilkinson, a native of Saint Louis, Mo., and longtime resident of New Orleans, La., died December 26, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga. She was 91. Born in Saint Louis on September 20, 1927, Gloria graduated from John Burroughs School in Saint Louis in 1945 and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1949. She married Hugh Miller Wilkinson, Jr. of New Orleans in 1950. She received a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Development from Tulane University. During her training, Gloria taught in the New Orleans Head Start Program. Subsequently, she taught at Trinity Episcopal School in New Orleans for many years. After Hurricane Katrina, she moved to Atlanta. Gloria was a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of New Orleans. She was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic amateur genealogist and loved entertaining her friends. Gloria is survived by her two sisters Alice Gardner Kerckhoff of Saint Louis and Annette Gardner Lasley of Chevy Chase, Md.; her children Leah Gardner Wilkinson Brockway (Scott) of Spokane, Wash., Catherine Andrews Wilkinson of Bishop, Calif., Elizabeth Wilkinson Elliott of Atlanta, Ga., and Hugh Miller Wilkinson, III (Beth) of Newton Centre, Mass.; grandchildren Mary Grace Elliott of Portsmouth, N.H., Elizabeth Ballard Elliott of Portland, Ore., and Hillary Claire Tsibris (Athe) of Newton Centre; great-grandchildren William Michael Tsibris and Andrew Noel Tsibris; and many nieces and nephews. Gloria was pre-deceased by her husband Hugh; her parents Leah Nette Ledbetter and Prince Albert Gardner, Jr. of Saint Louis; and her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Prince Albert Gardner, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. James A. Ledbetter of St. Louis. A Memorial Service was held at Lenbrook in Atlanta on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. The Funeral Service will be celebrated in the Chapel of Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans on Saturday, January 26, at 2:00 p.m.; Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Burial in Metairie Cemetery will be private. H.M. Patterson & Sons in Atlanta and Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans are in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church and School (1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, La. 70130) or the charity of your choice.