Gladys A. McGee

Mrs. Gladys Marie Arnold McGee entered into eternal rest on March 2, 2015 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was born June 22, 1930 in Little Rock, Arkansas to the union of the late Tranny P. and Julia Arnold. Gladys, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas attended and graduated from Dunbar High School. She matriculated to Arkansas A.M.&N. College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), where she majored in Music Education, sang in the Vesper Choir (under the direction of Professor Ariel "Pops" Lovelace) and joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. It was during this time that she met, fell in love with and married her classmate and friend, Shelton James McGee, of El Dorado, Arkansas. She continued her graduate studies in music at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she received the Master of Music Education degree in 1967. During the first five years of marriage to Shelton, they lived and worked at Mississippi Valley College in Iitta Bena, Mississippi. During this time they had two sons, Phillip and Paul. In 1954, they returned to Pine Bluff and Gladys began teaching in the Pine Bluff School System. She retired in 1986, after 36 years of teaching at Townsend Park and at Southeast Junior High Schools. Durning the more than forty years that Shelton was Professor of Music and Vesper Choir Director, Gladys was at his side assisting students with all aspects of their music education and choir performances. Long after Shelton's passing, she remained a loyal supporter of the Vesper Choir and, before she became unable to travel in later years, Gladys traveled to all Vesper Choir engagements and tours, including the Choir's 2006 performance tour to Italy. Gladys, affectionately referred to as "Momma McGee" by the members of the Vesper Choir, was a true source of inspiration and encouragement to the Choir as the official "Chaperone and Advisor" As a devoted and long-time member of the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, she enjoyed attending Sunday School and singing in the Saint Paul Senior Choir. She was preceded in death by her husband, Shelton James McGee; a son, Shelton Phillip McGee; sisters, Dorothy Cyrus, Alice Keith,and Lucille Foley; and brothers, Tranny Arnold and Marion Arnold. She leaves to cherish her memory:son, Paul S. McGee of Vienna, Virginia; Godson Leon Walker of Kansas City, Missouri; a grandson, Kistan S. McGee of Oklahoma; three great-grandchildren. And a host nieces and nephews of Little Rock, Arkansas, Kansas City, Missouri, and in California, as well as close friends and Vesper Choir alumni who will miss her dearly. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, with the Reverend Steven E. King officiating. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Section of Graceland Cemetery with services entrusted to the P.K. Miller Mortuary. Visitation will be Friday, March 6, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the mortuary. Mrs. McGee will lie in repose at the church on Saturday, from 12 noonm. until the time of service.