Gladys Jean McClain Brown was born April 5, 1937. in Hendersonville, North Carolina to the late Alonzo Sloan McClain, Sr. & Evelyn Wood Hill McClain. Gladys was the first of eight children. On Friday, March 3, 2023, Gladys passed away in Jacksonville, Florida. Her education began in Asheville, NC. The family moved to Gaffney, SC where she graduated from Granard High School in 1955. There. she met and married her high school sweetheart, Roy Osborne Brown. They had 7 children and moved to Stamford, Connecticut in 1960. Gladys attended J.W. Vocational school, became a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked for St. Joseph Hospital in Stamford, Ct. In 1981 Gladys moved to Jacksonville, FL. Her love of travel took her to cities throughout the United States as well as foreign travels to Switzerland, Haiti and Jamaica. Gladys became a member of Central Metropolitan CME Church where she was a dedicated and faithful member. She was preceded in death by her siblings. sisters: Ella "Iggy" McClain, Callie McClain Atkins, and Elizabeth "Lib" McClain; brothers Alonzo "Bro)" McClain, Jr., William "Bill" McClain, Robert (Bobbie) McClain and James (TI) McClain; son-in-law, John Rhines. Gladys leaves to mourn her daughters, Royreal Rhines (John), Evelyn and Denise; four sons William, Keith, Thellus, and Douglas (Romona); 23 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Evelyn McClain (Alonzo); brothers-in-law, William Atkins (Callie), and Benjamin T. Green (Geraldine); a host of nieces; nephews; cousins; a loving and supportive church family; and many friends. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, 11:00 a.m., in her church. For those unable to participate in-person, the service will be available via Zoom, Meeting ID: 677 884 0043; Passcode: 2020

Courtesy of The Gilmore Mortuary