Gloria Jean Perry passed away last week. She was 79 and a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.

She was also one of Hamilton County’s most dedicated foster parents. She and her husband, Earl, fostered more than 80 kids over the 33 years they worked with our agency.

Some of our Children’s Services supervisors still remember working with Gloria and visiting her at her home to check in on children. Gaja Karyala, our educational programs director, said she thinks Gloria and Earl did such a good job fostering because they created a grandparent vibe, which was not threatening to biological families that were trying to be reunified with their kids.

“She and her husband were really good at meeting the needs of our kids, Karyala said.

The couple was named Foster Parents of the Year in 1993.

Visitation and her funeral will be Feb. 15. Interim Director Tim McCartney wrote a letter to Perry’s family, thanking them again for her many years of service to Hamilton County’s kids.

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