Gloria Thompson

Gloria G. (Grant) Thompson

Gloria G. (Grant) Thompson was born to Claudius Costello Grant and Mildred Ophelia (Dottin) Grant on February 28, 1944. The first of four children, who were well loved and eagerly anticipated, she was imbued with confidence and a sense of determination. 

Gloria obtained the best education that the Boston Public School system could offer and graduated from Jamaica Plain High School with honors. She graduated from Melrose Wakefield Hospital School of Nursing in 1966 and was third in a class of thirty-three. Later, she was commissioned to second lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps and was stationed in Brook Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas and Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.. She received a Baccalaureate degree from the University of Massachusetts - Boston and graduated Cum Laude in 1977. Gloria would also go on to receive a Master of Education degree at Cambridge College in 1990. 

Gloria would later become reacquainted with the love of her life, Alvin E. Thompson, and marry while she was in the military. To this marriage two children were born, Alvin B. Thompson, of Georgia, and Hilton Thompson, of Massachusetts. Later, a daughter, Hilary Thompson, would join the family. A cousin and chosen son, Michael Laurence Cox, completed the happy family. 

Gloria worked as a private nurse at Mass General Hospital for ten years after which she worked for the Cambridge School Department as a Core Evaluation Nurse for twenty-eight years before retiring. 

Complete retirement was not in the picture for Gloria. After returning from a mission trip to Kenya, she was unable to forget the suffering she witnessed. Immediately, Gloria went into action and garnered well-wishers to show that small groups of dedicated people can, in fact, change the world. This group, established by Gloria in April 2006, started the support of residents in Homa Bay, Kenya. Everyone involved was eager to help. On one occasion, the group spoke directly to the local chief to get a better idea of the needs of the villagers. 

The first project Gloria headed was to buy a mill for the village so the local women would not have to trek long distances to grind their grain into maize. The mill jumpstarted the local economy, as people from outside the village came to grind their grain. 

Gloria brought commerce and education to Homa Bay for the purpose of feeding, housing, and uplifting the community. She recognized the potential for more economic growth and began to help a group of 58 local women establish a small market. A feeding program for orphaned children was also started. In addition, Gloria was instrumental in acquiring funds for 20 children to be housed. A member of the medical field for many years, Gloria was adamant that a health clinic be established in the local area, and she funded the project. Many lives were saved because the clinic treated local residents for common maladies such as malaria and cholera, both of which are deadly without immediate treatment. 

Among other accomplishments in Kenya, Gloria was instrumental in opening a school in Homa Bay District. School fees were subsidized so the children of the very “poorest of the poor” were able to attend primary school classes. 

Gloria always had a heart for those who were hungry and indigent. To that end, she contributed monthly to feed a group of 30 senior citizens as well as providing mosquito nets, beds, clothing and home repairs for seniors. Today, Gloria’s name is well-known by all involved in the project, and the Homa Bay, Kenya community at large. Gloria always said, “It’s amazing what you can do when God is in it; it’s nothing short of a miracle.”

Gloria believed that even though she sent money monthly, it required more than money to get people to the point where they could stand on their own feet. As she implemented small changes at Homa Bay, Gloria also hoped for larger changes in aiding the world’s poor. She once said, “My prayer is that we will have widespread attention to the people who are most in need in the world. I’ve been nursing for many years and have never had such a feeling of satisfaction.” 

As evidenced by her work in Homa Bay, Gloria was an entrepreneur who took great pleasure willingly sharing her business acumen with others - whether they wanted it or not.

Gloria was also a woman of great faith and gave her life to Christ at an early age. She loved the Lord and introduced countless people to the gospel. Gloria worshiped and served faithfully at the Cambridge Church of the Nazarene and Greater Framingham Community Church. 

Gloria’s husband, Alvin E. Thompson passed away in 2000. She leaves behind her children; Alvin B. Thompson, Hilton Thompson and Hilary Thompson, sisters; Mildred Maines, Claudine Bhatti and Ruby Braxton, daughter-in-law; Zana Thompson, grandchildren; Letaire Thompson, Jeciena Rivera, Rhea Thompson, Rachel Thompson, Reese Thompson, Zachariah Thompson, Jack Lehman, Tejon Lehman, and Gerald Turbides, her great-grandson Dominic Varnum, goddaughter Andrea Taylor, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

We honor the life and legacy of 2nd Lieutenant Gloria G. Thompson. As a servant of Christ, her purpose on this earth is complete, and she has found her way home to the Lord in a place of everlasting peace.

A wake (10:00AM) followed by a celebration of life (11:00AM) will be held on Saturday, April 11th at Greater Framingham Community Church (44 Franklin St. Framingham, MA 01702) followed by an internment at Cambridge Cemetery (76 Coolidge Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138).

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alvin E. and Gloria G. Thompson Memorial Scholarship at Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School (Cambridge, MA).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gloria Thompson, please visit our floral store.