Gloria Wallace Whitehead

Gloria Wallace Whitehead, of Chapin, passed away surrounded by the love of her family after a life defined by strength, devotion, compassion, and grace on Friday, May 15th 2026.

Gloria was the beloved wife of John E. Whitehead, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage, partnership, and unwavering love. Together they built a home centered on family, loyalty, laughter, and resilience. Through every season of life, Gloria was the steady heart of her family, a woman whose love was fierce, unconditional, and deeply felt by everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She was the cherished daughter of Don M. Wallace and Gloria Harris Wallace.

Above all else, Gloria was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves behind her children, Tracy (Jamey) Noland, Joshua (Katherine) Whitehead, and Jared (Chelsea) Whitehead, who were the pride and joy of her life. Her love extended endlessly to her six grandsons: Kyle (Samantha) Padgett, Jackson (Madyson) Padgett, Ethan (Sammy) Padgett, Matthew Whitehead, Daniel Whitehead, and Miller Whitehead. She was blessed with two precious great-granddaughters, Delilah Padgett and Marlaina Padgett.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don M. Wallace and Gloria Harris Wallace, and by her sisters, Barry Jane Wallace, Donna Mills, and Margaret Slice.

She is survived by her siblings, David (Virginia) Wallace, Patsy (Phil) Tanner, and Barbara (Wendell) Loftis.

Gloria had a rare gift for making people feel loved, protected, and accepted. She was strong without losing her gentleness, resilient without losing her compassion, and selfless in the countless ways she cared for the people around her. Whether through quiet acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or simply being present when someone needed her most, she left a lasting mark on the hearts of her family and friends.

To know Gloria was to know unwavering love, enduring strength, and the comfort of someone who always put family first. Her legacy will live on through the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren she adored and through the many lives she touched with her warmth, wisdom, and generous spirit.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Visitation will be held at Dunbar Funeral Home, 7600 Woodrow Street, Irmo, South Carolina, on Tuesday, May 19th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will follow on Wednesday, May 20th at 2:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home- Dutch Fork Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Richland Memorial Children’s Hospital NICU at:

https://give.prismahealthmidlandsfoundation.org/give/307044?amount=250#!/donation/checkout