By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Gloria Vest, who passed away on Jan. 3, 2024, is remembered as a remarkable woman who left behind a legacy of dedication to her community.
Born in 1954, Vest grew up and lived her life in Fluvanna County. She grew up helping to raise her younger siblings after her mother passed away. She took care of her father during his illness and later her grandmother. She is remembered as being caring and nurturing with her family but also with friends or anyone who needed help.
A lifelong member of the Evergreen Baptist Church, she served in a variety of roles in the church, including superintendent of its Sunday School and church treasurer. In addition, Vest supported the Vacation Bible School in other local churches and the Fluvanna County Sunday School Union as secretary.
Her friends recall her limitless energy, moving and doing whatever had to get done throughout her busy life. After graduating high school, she went to work as a secretary for the Fluvanna County School Board Office and was employed by the school system for 10 years. She also served as deputy treasurer for Fluvanna County for 32 years. Once retired, she took a part-time job with the county registrar’s office.
She enjoyed public service, greeting people and doing it with a smile, friends recalled. Naturally, sitting idle in a rocking chair and knitting was not for Vest who was also a director with the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), serving the Eastern District as a representative for Fluvanna, Louisa and Orange counties for over 20 years. In 2017, the CVECV Board of Directors dedicated its community room at their newly constructed office building in Palmyra for the first two female directors including Vest who was the second elected female director. The room is known as the Harlowe-Vest Community Room.
She was overjoyed when CVEC expanded broadband installation of Firefly in rural areas of the county, giving members better access to the internet.
As a volunteer she served with the Fluvanna volunteer rescue squad starting in 1973. Vest continued serving the organization’s treasurer for 20 years after she was unable to do squad runs. In addition to her service to the rescue squad, she volunteered with the Fluvanna Board of Equalization and the local chapter of the NAACP.
She lived a life in service to others and her community.
