Gloria Lee Mccallister

Gloria Lee Harrison McCallister, 94, of Southside, WV left this earth for her eternal heavenly home, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Holzer Medical Center.  During this life, Gloria was the only child of Edwin C Harrison & Iva A. Jordan Harrison (Whitehouse), born February 20, 1931, in Holly, WV. She was raised in the coal camps around Cabin Creek, and moved to Pliny, WV in 1944. She attended Winfield High School, where she met her one and only boyfriend, Fred McCallister. Gloria was the Valedictorian of her HS class of 1948, an honor that included a small college scholarship. She forfeited that to the Salutatorian as she intended to marry Fred soon.

Gloria & Fred married on July 6, 1950, at the Presbyterian Church in Pliny. They built a home in Teays Valley on Ches Wal Road and lived there until Fred chose to go into full-time ministry for the Concord-Harmony Baptist Parish in Southside in 1972. As the pastor’s wife, Gloria was always the special music for Sunday service if someone else canceled, the Vacation Bible School leader, and the Missions person. She enjoyed working with children, and after Jenny started school, Gloria went to WV State College to get her degree in Early Childhood education. She taught school for Mason County, WV for many years, teaching at Beech Hill Elementary in Southside, and later at Ordinance Elementary in Point Pleasant, WV.

Gloria enjoyed traveling. In 1976, the churches sent Fred on a Holy Lands tour, and Gloria, her mom, Iva, and daughter, Jenny, went along. Gloria remembered what she had seen during that trip for the rest of her life. She & Fred also went on a mission trip to Nicaragua with the backing of Harmony & Concord in 1978. They helped build a church and brought the gospel to the small village.  She enjoyed missions immensely, frequently collected items for Weirton Christian Center, and supported the Native Americans & American Veterans.

Gloria was known for her love of her flower gardens and springtime was her favorite time of year. She could be seen every year, even during the last years when she needed assistance walking, looking, and talking to her flowers. Most every trip she made included looking at flowers, and most of the time, coming home with several

Welcoming her home to heaven were the “great cloud of witnesses” led by her husband of 72 years, Frederick David McCallister, her mother, Iva A. Jordan Whitehouse, her stepfather, Hobart Whitehouse, her partner-in-crime and lifelong best friend, Velma Mae Jordan, her grandparents, Maw and Paw Jordan (Maggie Lee Brumfield Jordan and Louis Jordan), her mother-in-law, Ida Ellen Dailey McCallister, as well as many friends and loved ones who have gone before.

Those left to grieve her loss, but celebrate her life include her three children, Regina McCallister Wright of Southside, David (Margy) McCallister of Marietta, OH, Jennifer McCallister Martin of Grove City, OH & her sister, Sandra Whitehouse MacCallum of Charleston, WV. She leaves eight grandchildren: David (Bethany) Wright of Hamilton, OH, Laura Wright (Frank) of Cincinnati, OH, Andrew Wright, of Barboursville, WV, Kelly McCallister (Paul) Blackmore of Wilmington, NC, Megan McCallister (Adam) Steele of Dayton, OH, Becky McCallister of Wilmington, NC, Michael (Nikki) Martin of Grove City, OH & Jordan Martin (Joe) Hall of Gahanna, OH. Davey & Ella Jo Wright, Chloe Blake & Penelope Blackmore, Kaylen Martin, Jolee, Hyatt & baby Wynnifred Hall, Madison Murray are her nine great-grandchildren. Nieces are Lois McCallister (Alan) Casto of Hilton Head, SC, Katie MacCallum (Dave) Nichols of St. Albans, and nephew J.C. MacCallum of Charleston, WV.

Two very special caregivers, Crystal Gandee & Sarah Jeffers, treated her like their own mom and ensured she was safe and could stay in her home. They became part of our family, and we will be forever grateful for their kindness.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Gloria’s name to Gideons International to place Bibles or to Weirton Christian Center.

Visitation will be at Wilcoxen Funeral Home on Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 6- 8:00 PM with services at Harmony Baptist Church in Southside on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Judson Baptist Church Cemetery in Teays Valley.

Condolences may be expressed to the family and memories may be shared by visiting www.wilcoxenfuneralhome.com.