Gloria Boland

At the age of 79 years old, Gloria Dawn Boland, of Cottondale, Florida, died at Jackson Hospital on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Born on September 16, 1942, Dawn, as her brothers can attest, did not live a privileged childhood. One can only assume that the hardships she endured during this time were what built a strong foundation of grit, resilience, and her program with flying colors. As an ICU nurse, she was given the opportunity to display her fierce loyalty to her patients and family in spite of her working 16+ hour days. She was the epitome of leading from the front in both her professional and personal capacities. When she was not working, her most passionate hobby was collecting unique and beautiful shells. Englewood Florida was one location she particularly enjoyed frequenting along with the many sand bar islands encountered during fishing trips with her family. Always having an elegantly organized mind, she would masterfully arrange these shells to stand at attention according to size and color. Dawn would order the shells into formations of lampshades and large wall-hung art decor. Seeing the beauty in places where most neglect to even look, she erected beautiful houses that were be hung like pictures, made with beach trash and driftwood. It is said that talent in abundance is easily spotted, and strangers would beg her to sell her art. She refused. Instead, choosing to give them to family and close friends. She refurbished antique furniture, painted, sewed, and was nothing short of a wonderful cook. Even at a glance, those who met her knew that there was far more than is captured within these sentences. She treasured her family, above all, her maternal grandmother, Grace Brock, and her grandson, Aidan Boland. Gloria Dawn Boland was the exemplar of fortitude.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Edward Wilferd and Dorothy Jean Brock.

Dawn is survived by her immediate family, Walter Brasswell Boland of Brandon, FL; daughter, Tessa Boland Steinbach of Lansdale, PA; brothers, Bland Wilferd and wife, Linda of Charleston, SC and Gene Wilferd of Cottondale, FL; as well as one grandchild, Aidan Boland Steinbach. 

A graveside service will be at 2 P.M. Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Rusty Wiygul officiating. Marianna Chapel Funeral Home will be directing.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gloria Boland, please visit our floral store.