Gloria J. Ross Haywood was born May 10, 1959 in Mitchell County, Georgia to the late Ulysses Ross and Johnnie Mae Ross.

At an early age, she confessed CHRIST and joined St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church.  She later joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where she served as a deaconess.

She was a 1977 graduate of Mitchell County High School in Camilla, Georgia; a 2019 graduate of Albany Technical College in Albany, Georgia; and also a graduate of Moultrie Technical College in Moultrie, Georgia.

On September 10, 1977, she was united in holy matrimony to Leon Haywood, Sr., who preceded her in death. To this union two children were born, Leon Haywood, Jr. and Dontavius Haywood.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two children, Corey Haywood, Rayshida Haywood; a special daughter, Brandon Spence; two brothers, Ulysses Ross, Bobby Ross; a sister, Vontressia Ross.

She departed this life on Friday, February 4, 2022, at her residence.

Gloria leaves to cherish her memories, two loving children, Leon (Candice) Haywood, Jr. of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Dontavius Haywood of Albany, Georgia; grandchildren, Kyndasha Musgrove, Corey Figgs, Jr., Leon Haywood, III of Warner Robins, Georgia, Akerian Florence, Kamryn Spence of Albany, Georgia; great grandchild, Autumn L. Butler; four brothers, Douglas Ross, R. J. (Annie) Ross, Henry (Tracy) Ross, Kenneth (Sakita) Ross of Camilla, Georgia; two sisters, Johnnie M. Ross of Camilla, Georgia, Margaret Jackson of Gretna, Florida; son-in-law, James Spence of Albany, Georgia; brother-in-law, Clarence (Tracey) Haywood of Leesburg, Georgia, Dave Haywood of Atlanta, Georgia, Sam (Wanda) Haywood of Gainesville, Georgia, Harry (Felicia) Morgan of Albany, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Chattie Sue Wheeler of Gainesville, Florida, Virginia (Vernon) Jackson, Deidrea Edmonds, Tammy Jackson of Camilla, Georgia, Tammeron Ross of McComb, Mississippi, Dorothy Ross of Camilla, Georgia; special nieces and nephew, Personnia King, Vonetta Donaldson, Roderick Middlebrook; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.