Gloria D. Knight

A beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, stepmother, aunt, coworker, and friend, Gloria D. "Gogi" Knight peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home on November 14, 2025.

Born on July 25, 1951, in Glennville, Georgia, Gloria was the second of ten children born to the late Henry and Mary Louise Richardson. She grew up in a warm and close-knit family, sharing lifelong bonds with her siblings: Patricia (Kenneth) Baker, Janice Zean Sanders, Hariette (Charles) Thomas, Dennis (Maurina) Richardson, Barbara Ervin, Michael (Sandra) Richardson, and Mark (Wanda) Richardson. She was preceded in death by her sister Althea (Harry) Armstrong and her brother Henry "Tim" Fairbanks Richardson.

Gloria—lovingly known as "Gogi"—was a gentle, giving, and compassionate spirit. She had a remarkable ability to make others feel seen, cared for, and uplifted. A gifted cook, she found joy in preparing meals that brought people together, and her home was often filled with the warmth of shared food, shared stories, and shared laughter. Her radiant smile, joyful spirit, and infectious laugh left lasting impressions on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Her love for her family was unwavering and deeply rooted. Gloria was the heart of her home, a source of strength, comfort, and encouragement. She took tremendous pride in being a mother and stepmother, offering guidance, support, and unconditional love. Her grandchildren—De'Ja, Dee, Oliver, and Tre'Den—were the light of her life, and she cherished every moment spent nurturing, celebrating, and embracing them.

Gloria's life journey was filled with meaningful experiences and treasured milestones. She graduated from Ludowici High School in 1968, a significant chapter she remembered with pride. In the early 1970s, she married Willie Knight (deceased), and shortly afterward relocated to Wayne, Michigan, where she built her home and expanded her family. She welcomed her first son, Willie Knight III, on September 28, 1973; her second son, Darrell (Tiffany) Maurice Knight, on February 12, 1979; and her youngest son, Brandon Michael Knight, on December 16, 1988. Her children were her greatest joy, and she poured immeasurable love into raising them. She also opened her heart to others, extending her love and care to the Knight siblings, whom she cherished as her own, and to many others whose lives were forever changed by her warmth, steadiness, and generosity, earning her a special place as a beloved mother figure.

She is lovingly remembered by a wide and embracing circle of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and friends; her cherished god-sister, Julie Richardson; her adopted brother, Alex Wright; and coworkers who became treasured lifelong friends—Linda Thomas, Karen Dunson, and Rondale Harvey. Gloria also shared decades-long, deeply cherished friendships with her best friend, Mattie Abner, and with Lucille Green—her grandchildren's maternal great-grandmother—who became a close companion.

Throughout her life, Gloria was known for her generosity, her gentle spirit, and the steady love with which she uplifted those around her. She had a heart of gold and a calming presence that brought comfort wherever she went. Her legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and the countless lives she touched simply by being herself.

Gloria's life was a beautiful reflection of love, faith, and devotion. She will be deeply missed, forever honored, and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.