Gloria Renae Horne was born on November 18, 1948, to the late Mr. William and Mrs. Annie Mae Horne, in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended C.W. Hayes High School and Booker T. Washington Business College in Birmingham. She worked for the Social Security Administration
for over 40 years as a Benefits Authorizer. Her patience and dedication to helping others served her well. During this time, she made many wonderful friends, especially her beloved "lunch bunch".
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She was an active member of St. James A.M.E. Church in North Avondale, where she was a many decades' long choir member, served on many committees, and worked with the youth in the church. She lived her life as Christ wanted, to the service of others. She treated everyone
with love, whether they were family or a stranger. She fed the hungry and gave to those less fortunate, just as her parents taught her to do.
As the matriarch of the family, Auntie Ray was the center of most family gatherings. She was a second mother to all of the generations of children. She was always a cheerleader when you needed it. You knew you always had a home with her. She was the foundation that allowed you to take chances at greatness because you she would catch you if you were to fall. She made thousands of meals, chauffeured family to hundreds of doctors' appointments, and always called to see how you were doing. She was someone that everyone could count on for
whatever they needed. She always had a smile and kind words to brighten the gloomiest of days.

She leaves to cherish her memories: five sisters Mrs. Mary Jones, Mrs. Doris Jolly, Ms. Evelyn Horne, Mrs. Artyce Wynn, of Birmingham, AL and Lucille Hawkins (Herbert) of Grand Blanc, MI; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Mrs. Eurydice Wooten, Mrs. Irma Simpson, and Mrs. Dianne Beatty, and her brother Mr. Bobby Horne.