Gloria (Jefferies) League

Gloria League (Jefferies), age 92 of Meridianville, AL, passed away gently at home on January 17, 2025. Jesus, her Mum, and all her family who left before her have welcomed her with open arms into her heavenly home. She has missed them so much!

Gloria was born February 7, 1932 in Pontypridd, Wales to Jack and Florence (Wilcox) Jefferies. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, son Therman League Jr, daughter Sandra (League) Mattox, brothers Jack, Norman, and Keith Jefferies, granddaughter Alexis Perreault, and Therman League, Sr.

Times were tough in her early years. Her family moved to England, and once WW2 broke out she and her siblings were divided amongst family in Wales and England for safety. Later she worked at Nestle’s in England and frequently enjoyed free chocolates with her workmates. She loved to go dancing where she would eventually meet her husband, Therman (Red). Therman was in the USAF. Gloria would later take a long boat ride to the United States to join him. She was quite seasick! Soon, they were wed.

During Therman’s service in the USAF they would see many countries and this also allowed Gloria to frequently visit her family in the United Kingdom.

Gloria loved being social and had many friends. She enjoyed many outings/activities with them.  She was part of a British group in Huntsville, AL where she would meet and become lifelong friends with Mary Kilpatrick and Pam Bucey. They loved playing golf and going to the beach together. Gloria was employed by the Redstone Library and CIC, which is where she met another wonderful lifelong friend, Roxann.

Some of Gloria’s loves were eating proper fish and chips, cream crackers, English (Cadbury’s) chocolates, sausage rolls, jam tarts and generally any foods that reminded her of home. She enjoyed many visits to The Taste of Britain in Norcross, GA with both her daughter Sharon and her son, Steven over the years. In recent months she also enjoyed visiting The British Shoppe in Smyrna, TN for British treats. She loved music (especially when Kitty McBryar would sing Patsy Cline songs at karaoke!), dancing, going to the beach, knitting, crochet, gardening, preparing holiday meals for her family, watching the birds from her kitchen window, Christmas, and spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren! She also enjoyed being “dragged around” on many adventures with her daughter, Sharon, as Sharon knew her mom would never tell her “no.” Her daughter convinced her to take a trip to a private cave with her class at the university. She was a trooper sliding down the hill to the cave and Sharon pushing her back up the hill when it was over. What a good sport she was! Gloria also enjoyed many trips with her son, Steven and his wife Cindy and spending priceless quality time with them these last few months.

Gloria loved attending Life Church in Huntsville and going on the Prime Timers trips to Pigeon Forge. She loved her church family!

In her last years as her dementia worsened, her children shared in her care. This allowed her to stay with family, where she felt safe and happy. Recently she really enjoyed socializing with other seniors at Gracefully Aging in Hazel Green. They were kind and caring in her last months.

Gloria was a proud and stoic Welsh woman who would do anything in her power for her family. She was well loved by friends and family and was a strong (and strong willed!) and determined woman.

Gloria is survived and terribly missed by her son Clyde Jefferies, daughter Sharon Warfield, son Steven (Cindy) League. Grandchildren Tara McLaughlin (Fowler), Adam (Kaitlyn) Warfield, Kaitlyn (Michael) Fowler, Emily (Garrett) Sizemore, Laura Mattox, and Nick Perreault. Great grandchildren Adriana McLaughlin, Chloe, Michaela and Axton Fowler, Nathaniel, Benjamin, and Theodore Sizemore.  Beloved sister Olga Searle in England and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Celebration of Life will be Monday, January 20, 2025 from 1-3pm at Hazel Green Funeral Home, in Hazel Green, AL. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donating to Gloria’s favorite St. Jude Research Hospital, founded by Danny Thomas.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jack for years of wonderful care for their mother and thank you to all who have blessed her in her lifetime.