Gloria Hazel Fralix Brown

Gloria Hazel Fralix Brown, 88, died peacefully on December 7, 2023. Mrs. Brown was born on November 26, 1935, in Colleton County, SC, to Norman O’Neal Fralix and Grace Hazel Polk Fralix. Gloria had two older sisters, Amelia and Valma, whom she remained close to throughout their lives. She attended Lodge High School where she played on the girls’ basketball team, was voted High School Beauty Queen, and graduated valedictorian. On Sundays, she played the piano for services at the local Baptist and Methodist churches. After high school she attended Winthrop College. She was married on May 30, 1954, to Ken Brown, and over the next eight years they had one daughter and two sons. In 1965, they settled in Florence, SC - the place they chose to raise their family. As their youngest child started kindergarten in 1967, Mrs. Brown also started kindergarten as a teacher, first at All Saints Episcopal Day School and later at James F. Byrnes Academy. She taught kindergarten for more than 30 years and was famous for her natural skill of inspiring children to love learning, her ability to painlessly pull baby teeth when required, and her classroom collection of live animals and reptiles that the children could hold. When she retired in 1998, the board of trustees named her classroom in her honor. Mrs. Brown enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, Canasta, crocheting and sewing. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and spent many hours volunteering at the church with friends. Mrs. Brown is survived by her children: Wanda Brown Lewis (Jerry) of Lugoff, Mike E. Brown (Terri) of Florence, and Gary W. Brown (Missy) of Florence; her grandchildren: Nikki Brown Eaddy (Brian) of Fredericksburg, VA, Christopher Brown (Alaina) of Mustang, OK, Jeremy Lewis (Jessica) of Wilmington, NC, Justin Lewis (Ashleigh) of Lexington, Grace Lewis Boling (Will) of Columbia, Mills Brown (Linus Feder) of Oxford, UK, J.T. Brown (Kate) of Murrells Inlet, Collin Brown of Columbia, and Grace Anne Brown of Charleston. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Luke, Karysn, Amy, and Tie Eaddy, Savannah and Caroline Lewis, Caleb and Zoey Lewis, Weston, Wade and Mullins Boling and by a brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Neil and Willa Brown of Wilmington, NC and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sisters and brothers-in-law. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 87, Florence, South Carolina 29503-0087, or a charity of one’s choice. A memorial service will be held at Central UMC, on December 20, 2023, at 11:30 am, following a private inurnment service in the Columbarium Garden of the church. The family will receive friends after the service in the church’s Commons Area.