Gloria Jean Dixon was born into the loving parentage of Birdie Mae (James) Dixon and Louis Dixon, Sr. (who preceded her in death) on June 1st, 1945. She was the last of eight children born into this union.

Gloria, a native of Dallas, grew up in the heart of Dallas on Roseland Avenue. She began her walk with the Lord as a member of Munger Avenue Baptist and attended regularly with her mom and siblings. She was a member of the church choir and the school choir at her graduating high school Booker T Washington. She sang a stellar soprano in the churches she later served in. Gloria furthered her education at Paul Quinn college upon graduating high school.

As life would have it, she met, fell in love, and married Donald (Don) Woodard. Donald Woodard was enlisted in the US Navy during their courtship/marriage which would require they move to San Diego, California. This was the birthplace of their first son Donald Woodard Jr. After Donald's Navy enlistment was completed, the family would return to their native state Texas where the next child born into this union was their second son Darrin Woodard.

After seeing an ad in the newspaper for a career in Allied Health, Gloria decided to further her education to help support her growing family. Upon gaining her certification in Cytology, she embarked on what would become a 30-year career as a Cytotechnologist. Early in her new career, they welcomed their last child, daughter Candice Woodard.

Upon becoming a single mother, Gloria was determined to maintain her household, rearing her three children by working multiple jobs to support their needs. She instilled that focus and work ethic not only in her children, but in her nieces, nephews, and church family always stressing the importance of higher education.

Gloria was also a firecracker! Like her father, she was fiercely independent and relentless when she made up her mind. Some would characterize it as being stubborn; she would often make the statement "I am DIXON stubborn like my daddy". She spoke her mind often and freely, no holds barred with truth and candor, but always from a place of love. To truly know her was to love her.

Gloria had the biggest heart and firmly stood by her family and those she loved. Like her gentle mother, she always put family first. If you needed anything and she was able to help, you did not even have to ask. That was just her way.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents Birdie Mae Dixon (James) and Louis Dixon Sr., three sisters: Lula Mae Walker, Birdie Mae High, Minnie Violet Floyd; four brothers Louis Dixon Jr., Charles Dixon, Virgil Dixon, Cecil Dixon, and Donald Woodard, Sr. (ex-husband).

She is survived by sons: Donald Woodard (Kristy), Jr. and Darrin Woodard (Tom Edward Eck), daughter: Candice (Corey) Sanders and eight lovely and vibrant granddaughters: Daviciah Woodard, Ashton Woodard, Donielle Woodard, Taylor Sanders, Parker Sanders, Aubrey Sanders, Peyton Sanders, and Emory Sanders along with a host of nieces, nephew, a great-nephew and great-nieces.