Obituary of Gloria Joyce Spence
Gloria Joyce Spence, 86, was called home to be with her Creator in the early morning of October 16, 2024 with loving family member at her bedside. On April 3, 1938, Gloria was born in Kingston, Jamaica and resided there until immigrating to the United States in 2001. For a short time, Gloria lived in Rahway before moving to Plainfield, living there until 2017. She then resided in Bridgewater from 2017 – 2021 and ultimately settling in Piscataway to be with family.
Gloria was in food services with Easter Seal and then retired from the Plainfield Housing Authority. She was a member of the Plainfield Senior Center and attended several social events at the City Hall of Plainfield alongside Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs. She could often be found doing outreach ministry for her church, Rose of Sharon in Plainfield with the late Rev. Hutchinson.
Gloria had a passion for church and the ministry of Religion. She could often be found singing, and will never be forgotten as a kind, caring, compassionate, sympathetic and understanding wife, mother, grandmother, sister, great-grandmother and most importantly, a friend. She especially showed her passion as a foster mother to those less fortunate.
Gloria was a personable, well-loved woman who would light up any room she was in.
Gloria had survived her late husband Ernest Spence for over 28 years. She now leaves behind her loving and devoted family; children: Mary Basden of Piscataway, Marcia Francis of Bentonville, AK, Neville Reid and his wife Bonita of Douglasville, GA, Yvonne Reid of North Brunswick, Joan Grant and her husband Linval of North Brunswick and Janet Essue and her husband Clive of North Plainfield. Grandchildren: Jessica Hibbert, Michael, Mark, Ariannah and Allura Basden, Alexa Lobban, Giovannie and Jonelle Francis, Nicholas, Tanisha, Al, Kimese, Phillip, Nickiesha, Jeremiah and Faith Reid, Aaron Wade, Ricardo Cole and Luke and Sashana Grant. She also left behind eighteen great-grandchildren, three foster children, four other children whom she cared for as well as her surviving sister Ann Adessa Rowe and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held under the direction of McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals in South Plainfield at the Rose of Sharon Community Church, 825 West 7th Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060 on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 beginning 9:00 am. Gloria’s Home Going Service will begin at 10:00 am with Bishop Q.F. Daubon and Rev. Omar Sinclair officiating. She will then be laid to rest at Resurrection Burial Park in Piscataway.