Gloria is a native of Anne Arundel County, Maryland and was raised in the AME Zion church from her early childhood.
After becoming a Prince George′s County resident and within walking distance to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Gloria begin to attend regularly. On October 14, 1990 Gloria was received into full membership under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Leonard R. Felton.
Immediately she began serving and chairing on the following committees: Sunday school, Church Council, Staff Parish Relations, Church Anniversary and wherever and whenever there was a need.
In 2011, it was under the leadership and encouragement of her then current pastor the Rev. Dr. Rodney Thomas Smothers that she was convinced to enroll in the Discipleship Academy to become a Certified Lay Minister. The two year curriculum was successfully completed in March 2013 and her certificate presented at the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference by the Director, the late Sandra M. King-Shaw. Gloria was in the second class of Certified Lay Ministers of the Baltimore Washington Conference and has maintained the requirements of recertification as defined by the Book of Discipline.
Gloria′s skills were put into service to assist Pastor Ronald E. F. Triplett that was assigned as Pastor of the Corkran Memorial UMC in Temple Hills, MD as part of our Cooperative Parish. When Pastor Triplett was assigned as Lead Pastor of Gethsemane United Methodist Church in Capitol Heights, MD. After a short transition period, Gloria returned to her home church. After several months she began to attend Gethsemane. After several years of attending regularly the Lord led her in July 2019 to transfer her membership and service to minister at Gethsemane.
The wife of Arthur Simpkins, mother, proud grandmother, a sister, auntie and a friend too many. When it is all said and done, Gloria’s greatest passion is the Love of Jesus Christ and the blessings that has been bestowed upon her, so that her work in the vineyard will continue to help build the kingdom, and to God be the Glory!
With God All Things Are Possible Matthew 19:26