Ellen Loraine Gladden

Loraine Gladden was born Ellen Loraine Scott on August 7, 1945 to the late Holiday and Mattie Kate Scott (nee Harris) in Saluda, VA. One of seven children, Loraine a.k.a. ‘Lo’ grew up in a loving and tight knit family in Middlesex County Virginia where her wonderful personality was shaped. Described by her family as sweet, sassy, the life of the party, and fun. Everyone who knew ‘Lo’ knew she was always going to tell it like it was. The self proclaimed shop-a-holic loved dancing, Peppermint Patties, beach days, traveling, and a good hot cup of coffee. She was a graduate of St. Clare Walker High School and attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA.

Loraine landed her first job with the Burroughs Corporation in Plainfield, NJ where she met and married her husband of 55 years, Charles Martin Gladden. Together they raised three beautiful children: Blayne, Bryan, and Brandi in Plainfield, NJ and Rock Hill, SC. An industrious worker, she had jobs at AT&T, helped her husband start a small business and eventually pursued a career as a Pharmacy Technician. Loraine retired from Piedmont Medical Center in 2012 after 25 years of service. Along the way Loraine and Charles were blessed with eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren and she became MaRaine, the name she was given by her grandchildren. One of the things MaRaine cherished most was her family. She invested her time, love, philosophies, and bible truths in every one of them. She was generous and giving. She would ‘give you the shirt off of her back’ if you needed it. And sometimes giving included one of her great meals. If you were privileged to enjoy her incredible candied yams, savory fried potatoes, or delicious lasagna you know how much they will be missed.  She was a happy and proud wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt.

Loraine had many proud moments in life. One of her proudest was the year she became a dedicated, baptized servant of Jehovah in 1965. She died a faithful servant of 57 years until her passing, Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends always knew what she was going to say if anything was worrying them:  “Say your prayers!”. She was drawn to the truths found in the Bible, because of her love of people, her association, and her love of Bible based standards. What are some of those truths?

Jehovah is the Sovereign of the Universe (Acts 4:24) and Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18)
There will be a time when sickness, death, and suffering will cease to exist (Revelation 21:3-5)
We can live forever in paradise on earth (Psalm 37:29)

She made a beautiful name with Jehovah through her faithful service (Ecclesiastes 7:1). She made God’s heart rejoice (Proverbs 27:11).

In life, as in love, Loraine was compassionate, kind, and a truth speaker with her family and friends. While she will be dearly missed her family is comforted by knowing they will see her again in paradise on earth. Loraine was predeceased by her brothers Henry B. Scott and Holiday Benjamin Scott, and brothers in law Lawrence Sutherlin and Leroy Hodges. She leaves in peace her husband, Charles M. Gladden, and children, Blayne Anthony Gladden (Ehrika), Bryan Anthawn Gladden (Letonia), and Brandi Gladden White (James); sisters and brother, Evelyn Scott Sutherlin, Emily Scott Hodges, Linda Scott Harris (John R.) and Harold Alan “Frenchie” Scott (Juanita); sisters in law, Rose Scott, Jannie Scott, and Bonnie Gladden and brothers in law, Ray Anthony Gladden (Lois) and Gene Mackey; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. If she was here with us now she would tell us all: “Say your prayers and Jehovah, the God of all comfort, will take care of everything.”.