Gloria Ann Seay

Gloria Ann Seay (née Nash) passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her three daughters, son-in-law, and grandson at her home in Fort Washington, Pa., on the morning of Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th, 2024.

 

She was born in Greenville, S.C., in 1927, the second daughter of Sarah Carrie Savilla Nash (née McKnight) and Clarence Alvin Nash. The second-youngest of six children, she grew up in Fountain Inn, S.C., and was the granddaughter of Frank McKnight, who owned the inn for which the town was named. While growing up, she swam with her friend Ruby in the cool Piedmont springs, and looked as beautiful as a magnolia in spring the whole time.

 

In 1942, she was one of five Southern women chosen to sponsor a Navy combat vessel headed to Britain for use in World War II, after penning a letter to President Roosevelt. She traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., for the mass launch on December 23rd, 1942, where she christened motor minesweeper BYMS-53 by cracking a bottle of champagne on its hull. Despite being just sixteen years old, Gloria stated that she was “very calm” when interviewed by a local paper.

 

She graduated from Fountain Inn High School in 1946, then attended cosmetology school. She met her husband, Patrick Herbert Seay, on a bus from Greenville, S.C., and they married in 1948. They lived in Princeton, N.J., and she worked at a beauty salon while he earned his Master’s Degree and PhD from Princeton University. After his graduation, they moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where she worked as a cosmetologist. Through their shared hard work they were able to purchase their first home together.

 

They lived there for the next decade and welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Janette, shortly before moving to Philadelphia, and building the house where they would spend the rest of their lives along with Gloria’s mother.

 

They welcomed their second daughter Karen soon after arriving in the Philadelphia area. Years later they welcomed their third daughter Ellen.

 

As a mother, Gloria was active and involved—she took her girls camping with the Girl Scout Troops and enrolled them in piano, figure skating, ballet, and art lessons. She always had an intense appreciation for art and beauty and emphasized its importance by taking her children to art museums, concerts, and plays. They took many memorable trips together to visit relatives in South Carolina and vacationed each summer in Ocean City, N.J.

 

Gloria also believed immensely in the value of learning. She was tremendously proud of her husband’s accomplishments as a research scientist, and was a huge supporter in the education of her children and grandchildren, who she loved dearly.

 

Her grandchildren affectionately called her Grandmère, Grandie, and G and she loved doing everything with them—including playing hide-and-go-seek, having sleepovers, telling goodnight stories, watching movies, singing, dancing, enjoying sweet treats, reminiscing, making TikToks, and enjoying the splendor and beauty of nature. She was a constant fixture at school events, plays, performances, and on family vacations. No event was complete without her and she made every occasion lovely and memorable with her sweet and gentle Southern charm, radiant beauty, and gracious remarks.

 

Aside from her family life, she was also the treasurer of the Upper Dublin Chapter of Art Goes To School and would travel to schools to teach children about art. She was a member for over 20 years.

 

In 2015, Gloria was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma and began a new form of treatment called immunotherapy at Thomas Jefferson University, which resulted in complete remission. She underwent several outpatient procedures over the next several years, as well as neurological challenges, but was able to remain comfortably in her home with the assistance of her children and several extraordinary caregivers. Throughout these final years, she faced life with bravery, tenacity, grit, and her spirited humor. She was described as a “fighter” by many and seemed driven by an unwavering commitment to remain on this earth with her family for as long as possible.

 

Family was always the most important thing to Gloria and she will remain a constant presence in the lives of her family. She is survived by her three daughters, Janette Seay Holup (John Holup) of Franklin Lakes, N.J., Karen Seay (Kevin Reynolds) of Yardley, Pa., and Ellen Seay-Palmer of University Place, Wash.; and five grandchildren, Selena and Tatiana Seay-Reynolds, Alexandra and Tristan Holup, and Leah Palmer.

 

She was predeceased by her husband Patrick; her two sisters, Sarah and Joan Elissa; her three brothers, Frank Lee, Clarence William, and Kenneth Paul; and her mother, Carrie, who lived with them for the last twenty-four years of her life. Both Gloria and her mother lived to be 96 years old.

 

A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Monday, June 3rd, 2024, at St. Thomas’ Episocopal Church Whitemarsh. Friends are invited to drop in and share sweet and loving memories of Gloria. Funeral services will commence at noon and will be followed by a procession to the St. Thomas’ Episocopal Church Whitemarsh Cemetery where she will be laid to rest and reunited with her beloved husband.

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gloria’s memory may be made to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University to support their incredible immunotherapy research, which extended Gloria’s life by almost a decade. To make a contribution in her memory, please visit this link.