Gloria Jean (Sturgeon) Messier

August 7, 1942 – October 22, 2026

Gloria Jean Messier, 84, passed away on October 22, 2026 comfortably in her home surrounded by her family.

Born into a generation when women were expected to be obedient, Gloria had other plans. Fiercely independent, wonderfully stubborn, and never particularly interested in being told what to do, she built a life on her own terms.

A graduate of John Bapst High School, she worked hard throughout her life, including years within the local public school system, at the James River paper mill in Old Town, and as a bartender at the Elks Club, where customers quickly became family. She made friends everywhere she went, turned strangers into companions, and shared countless adventures—and plenty of funny mishaps—with those she loved.

Gloria had a way of turning even the most ordinary day into an adventure. She was endlessly curious and never afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger. If she passed a house she thought was beautiful, she might just knock on the door and ask for a tour, and more often than not, she'd leave with a new friend. Life with Gloria was rarely predictable. Whether traveling the world with her closest friends or simply heading out for a drink at the club, she believed life was meant to be lived and people were meant to be enjoyed.

Some of Gloria's happiest moments were at her beloved camp on Madagascal Pond, where family and friends gathered and there was always room for one more. She loved the buzz of people as well as the calm of the porch with a good book, loons calling across the water.

With her signature fiery red hair, a glass of wine, and a personality that could fill any room, Gloria was anything but your typical Nana. She loved to dance, laugh, socialize, and be surrounded by the people she loved. She was wildly independent but equally devoted to her family and friends, always wanting to be included in whatever adventure came next.

She was Nana not only to her own grandchildren, but to countless others who were lucky enough to know her. Whether you were family by blood or simply welcomed into her life, one meeting was often all it took to become one of her own. Her love was unconditional and her door was always open.

Gloria was predeceased by her parents Lloyd and Callista Sturgeon; brother Michael Sturgeon; son, Michael Messier; and her great-granddaughter, Harper Thornton.

She is survived by her brother Ricky (Rose) Sturgeon; daughters, Nance Bradbury, Patricia Messier, and Debbe Messier (John); her grandchildren, Matt (Amanda) Shirland, Ashley (Dan) Thornton, and Seth (Kim) Bradbury; her special-grandchildren, Samantha (Ian) Tulk and Michael (Vanessa) Perkins, Luke (Dani) Yando; her great-grandchildren, Bristol, Boden, Brooklyn, Beckam, Berkley, Lien, Jade, Michael, Quinn, Atlas, Harry, and Tom.

Gloria lived fully, loved widely, and left behind a lifetime of memories, laughter, and stories that will be told for years to come.

A special thank you to Bristol Hospice and Virginia Greene for taking such good care of our spitfire in her final days. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated  Friday, October 30th at 10:30 am at the Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, Old Town with a gathering to follow at 12:00pm at Birmingham Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, gifts, or donations, please honor Gloria’s memory by passing on an act of kindness to someone in need—someone who may be lonely, struggling with depression, or experiencing mental or physical pain.

A simple act of compassion can bring comfort, hope, and light to someone who needs it most.

In loving memory of Gloria, may her legacy live on through the kindness we share with others. She was everybody's Nana, and the world was a little more colorful because she was in it.