Mrs. Gloria Jean Durrance

FORT MEADE - Mrs. Gloria Jean Durrance, 82, passed away Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Sebring, FL. Mrs. Durrance was born August 30, 1938 in Fort Meade, FL where she was a lifelong resident and an elementary school teacher at Lewis Elementary in Fort Meade for over 40 years, and received the award as 'Teacher of the Year' in 1998. She was a 1956 graduate of Fort Meade High School, and completed her education at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Mrs. Durrance loved children, and beyond her own family, she was a mother figure to thousands of children throughout her career. She loved traveling with her fellow teachers on extended trips across the country, fishing, and writing inspirational poetry, which stemmed from the love of her church where she was a lifelong member, the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade. She served her church as a counselor at the Methodist youth camp in Leesburg, FL, and kept her church at the very center of her heart.

Mrs. Durrance was preceded in death by her parents, Wilford Clinton Manley and Louise Andrews Manley, and Clifford and Tessie Manley Mann, her son, Clinton Durrance, and her daughter, Karla Sue Durrance, and her sister, Robbie Parrish..

She is survived by her loving husband Bobby Durrance; son, Keith Allen Durrance; daughter, Kathy Jean Durrance and Synda Durrance Maynard; brother, Wilford Clinton Manley, Jr., sister, Kay Manley; sister/cousin, Janice Thompson and husband Billy; family friend and caregiver, Mary Lou Perez; grandchildren, Christopher Knight, Daniel Watson, Dalton Ebi; great-grandchildren, Lakien Watson and Mary Grace Watson.

Funeral services will be held from the graveside at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 1, 2021 in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade. For those wishing, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Durrance's memory to: Lewis Elementary Teacher's Appreciation Funds, 115 S. Oak Ave., Fort Meade, FL 33841 or to the First United Methodist Church, 135 E. Broadway, Fort Meade, FL 33841.

Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade, FL 863-285-8171