Dr. Gloria S. Malone

Dr. Gloria S. Malone of Alliance passed away on Friday, June 16, 2023 in Alliance, OH.

Born May 12, 1928 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late John and Doris Snodgrass, she was brought to Alliance in early infancy and resided here all her life.

Joining Second Baptist Church at an early age, she was the most senior member and served in many capacities. Such service included Sunday School teacher, vacation Bible School teacher, weekly Bible Study teacher for twenty years, usher, kitchen assistant and numerous committee assignments.

A product of the Alliance public schools, she received her Bachelor of Science degree, Magna cum Laude, from Central State University where she met her future husband, Arthur, whom she married on July 23, 1949. He preceded her in death on April 1, 2014. She earned her Master of Education, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at Kent State University.

One of the first African-American teachers to be hired in Stark County, she began her career at Franklin Elementary in 1949. Three years later, she was assigned to Alliance High School. In her final year at AHS, she was named Teacher of the Year.

In 1969, she became the first African-American faculty member at Mt. Union College. A member of the English Department, she served several years as Chairman until choosing early retirement in 1990. While at Mt. Union, she was also a reader and table leader for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ and a consultant evaluator for the North Central Accrediting Association. Following retirement from Mt. Union, she served a year as a visiting professor at Ohio Northern University, her son’s alma mater.

Her post-retirement employment included service as Education Coordinator of the Stark County Community Action Agency’s Head Start program and Employment Officer for the Agency’s Alliance Employment Development Office.

Over the years, she served on the board of numerous agencies and organizations. Her volunteerism included many years of service at Alliance Community Hospital. Additionally, she served as a Guardian ad litem for the Stark County Family Court. She was a past president and key woman for the Alliance Area Churchwomen United.

She was twice designated as Alliance’s Citizen of the Year; in 1986 by Mayor Francis Carr and in 2005 by Mayor Toni Middleton. In 2007, she received the Athena Award from the Women’s Division of the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fraternally, she was a member of Bezaleel Assembly No. 19, Order of the Golden Circle in Cleveland, a past matron of Starlite Chapter No. 83, Order of Eastern Star and a Past Grand Worthy Matron of Amaranth Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, state of Ohio. Her sorority was Alpha Kappa Alpha.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Arthur, a brother John, and sisters Lucile Watts and Virginia Proctor.

She leaves to cherish her memory a son Merrick (Marsha) of Alexandria, VA, two daughters, Deanna Malone of Richmond, VA and Myrna Holmes (Cornelius) of Pittsburgh, PA, three granddaughters, Piper (Clinton) Mitchell, Courtney Holmes, and Jordan Holmes, two great-grandsons, Clinton II and Merrick Mitchell, one niece, three nephews and several cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2023 at Second Baptist Church with Pastor Willie Bell officiating.  Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Thursday and 10-11 a.m. Friday, at the church.  Interment will be at Alliance City Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.