Gloria B. Sexton

Gloria B. Sexton HAMPTON - Gloria Aurelia Beale Sexton, 82, died peacefully, yet unexpectedly Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at Riverside Regional Medical Center due to complications of numerous chronic and painful diseases. "Mimi," as she was known to family and friends, was born Aug. 30, 1926 in Suffolk. She was raised in Branchville, Va., and cherished the people and land of Southampton County. For many years she managed the Beale farms on the outskirts of Branchville. She took every opportunity to spend time in her parent's old home until she was no longer able to do so. Mimi graduated valedictorian from Boykins High School in 1943. She then traveled to one of her favorite places, Williamsburg, where she attended and graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1947. While at William and Mary she was in the Phi Mu sorority and sang in the prestigious William & Mary choir as a soprano. Gloria met Charles Carrol Sexton in 1947 and they married on a beautiful June day in 1949. They had one daughter, Ann, with whom they shared a close relationship their entire lives. During their 52-year marriage, they lived in Buies Creek, North Carolina, Williamsburg, Jarratt and Hampton. The majority of weekends and holidays, however, were spent in Branchville where Mimi would work on farm business and visit her many relatives. She also worked as an English teacher, a substitute teacher, an editor, a bookkeeper and AAA representative. Mimi was preceded in death by her parents, Eva Overby Beale and Rufus Beale, and her husband, Charles Carol Sexton. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Sexton Tiernan; son-in-law Michael J. Tiernan of Williamsburg; grandson, (her "favorite grandson") Scott S. Tiernan of Atlanta and granddaughter, (her "favorite granddaughter") Lori Annette Tiernan of New York City. She also leaves behind her sister (and best friend), Jane Beale Jones and brother-in-law Dr. John C. Jones, both of Ahoskie; nephew John C. Jones and family of Alexandria, and numerous other nieces and nephews, and several close cousins, especially Jesse Edwards of Branchville, who always shared her wonderful southern cooking with Mimi. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Wright Funeral Home, 206 W. Fourth Ave., Franklin. Interment will follow at Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins. The Rev. Thomas Caulkins will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be flowers or contributions to the Fund for William & Mary, Swem Library, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187-9915 or the Virginia Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, 3805 Cutshaw Ave., Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23230. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.