Mrs. Gloria J. Watkins - Curvey's Obituary
On Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, God in his infinite wisdom and love received Gloria Watkins-Curvey to join her parents, sister, and husband who all preceded her in death. Affectionately known as “Gopa” by most of her family, she was a proud mother, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend.
Gloria was born in Crockett, Texas where she attended local schools there. In 1960, shortly after her mother moved to Houston, she and her sister reunited with their mother in the big city. Gloria transferred to Jack Yates, in the heart of 3rd Ward in Houston, Texas and fell in love with the city.
After graduating in 1962 and Texas Southern University (1967) where she majored in Home Economics, and began attending bible study with led by a campus minister named Bill Lawson. After graduating from college, she began her lifelong love of education by becoming an elementary teacher, and she became a member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. She taught at a number of schools including but not limited to Dodson Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, and Houston Community College. During her time of teaching, she met and married Marshall Watkins. From that union, her only son, Sean, was born.
Years and many seasons later, Gloria would meet and marry John B. Curvey. The stories from these two brought laughter for everyone they came in touch with. After 12 years of marriage, John passed and Gloria continued to be matriarch, voice, and influence in her family that she loved so dearly and deeply. As her health continued to decline, her last two years were spent with her son, Sean, in Austin before her passing. Gone but never forgotten, she referenced daily her son, her family, the city of Houston, and Wheeler Avenue—all of which she held closely in her heart.
She was preceded in death by both parents, T.A. Rhoder and Betty Jean LaRue Gilmore; her younger sister, Betsy,; and her late husband John B. Curvey. She leaves to cherish her memory her son Sean, sisters Cynthia and Kay, nephew Jesse Jefferson, Jr., niece Leslie (Curtis) Iles, and a litany of close cousins and friends.
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