Mrs. Gloria Beard-Horton was born to James Beard and Elnora Bradford Beard of Hosston, the eldest of three girls. After graduating from high school in 1966, she attended Southern University, Baton Rouge, from 1966-1968. Mrs. Horton married in 1969 and went to Buffalo with her husband William Horton, as he attended graduate school. When he accepted a job at Grambling State University (1973-1976), she obtained her B.A. degree in sociology.
After returning to Grambling in 1986, she joined the Upward Bound staff as an academic counselor, where she worked for approximately 16 years. Her most recent job was with the Living and Learning Program at GSU (2007-2008) as a program coordinator.
Church and God are important to the Hortons. They became members of the Mt. Olive B. C. of Grambling, Inc. under Rev. E L Johnson and where her husband serves as an associate minister.
Co-workers, present and past, remembered Mrs. Horton fondly.
“Mrs. Hornton was a quiet and mild mannered person. She also worked well with the students. It was a pleasure to work with her. I enjoyed talking with her, usually on a daily basis. I will miss seeing and talking to her each day,” said Mattie Williams.
“The death of my former co-worker opened my eyes to the truth of how precious our time on earth is and how we should live a life that would please God. A life dedicated to being a better neighbor, or Christian,” said Sandra Epps.