Gloria Denise Herring

Our beloved mother, Gloria Denise Herring (Burgess), entered into eternal rest on July 13, 2026, at the age of 66. She was the heart of our family, a source of endless love, and a bright light to all who knew her. Her story opened its first page in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where she was born to into the legacy of William and Verna Burgess, October 7, 1959. Educated locally, Gloria attended Douglass School and graduated from College High School in 1977. She furthered her education at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma and completed her Bachelor of Business Administration at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. Her greatest pride and joy were the family she built, loved and nurtured. Those left to cherish her memory and mimic her recipes are her children, David Herring Jr. of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Krishana and Melvin Bright III of Oklahoma City; her grandchildren, Nakia, Oliviah, Cameron, Deshaun, Jayden, Amiyah, Quincy, Amari, Kihlyn and Cashden; her great-grandchildren Legend, Royal, Dream and Truce; her brother Bill Burgess and wife Karey York Burgess of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; her parents William and Verna Burgess of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother Charles Burgess. Gloria was known for her big heart, infectious laugh, and gentle spirit. She operated on the belief that a stranger was just a friend she hadn’t talked to yet. A natural storyteller and a gifted conversationalist, she found true joy in the simple things in life. No one ever left her house with an empty stomach or an unloved heart. She wove herself in the very fabric of the town, leaving an irreplaceable space where she once stood. Her deepest love was reserved for the Lord, a devotion she nurtured as a member of Greater First Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma until her body could no longer keep up with her willing spirit. She has fought the good fight, finished her race and is now resting in the arms of her Savior. Gloria, thank you for building a family that knows how to love, because that love is what will carry us through until we see you again. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the overwhelming avalanche of love, prayers and shared memories during this tender season.

Gloria Denise Herring

October 7, 1959 - July 13, 2026