Gloria Frances Cooper Epps, 73, of Palatka, peacefully transitioned into eternal rest on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Putnam Community Medical Center, Palatka. A native of East Palatka, she was born on Sunday, October 19, 1941 to James & Hattie Norris Cooper, Sr., and was lovingly raised by her foster parents, Mr. & Mrs. Arnett (Louise) Osgood, Jr. She was a graduate of Central Academy High School, class of 1959. In her pursuit of higher education, she attended and graduated from Bethune-Cookman College, (now University) class of 1964. Gloria was subsequently employed by the Putnam County School District in September of 1964 at James A. Long Elementary School as a Media Specialist and served for 30 meritorious years, retiring in September 1994. In 1976, she was united in holy matrimony to Eugene Epps. In her early years, she attended Mount Olive A.M.E. Church, East Palatka. She was a longtime, loyal member and supporter of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Palatka. She was affiliated with the Bethune-Cookman Alumni Association, Putnam County Women's Educational Social Civic Association (WESCA) and the Retired Educator's Association. Every Christmas she would prepare breakfast for family, friends and neighbors. She was affectionately known as the "Neighborhood Mom". Her hobbies and past-times included sewing, cooking, canning, picking oranges and bullet grapes. In addition to her parents and foster parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her foster sister, Judy Osgood Jones. She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Eugene Epps, Palatka; step-daughters, Katrice Epps Weaver, Cocoa, Tamecia Epps, Palatka; brothers, Thomas (Viola) Cooper, Sr., Jimmie (Betty) Cooper, East Palatka; brothers-in-law, Sam (Helen) Epps, Chicago, IL, Anthony Williams, Alvin Brown, both of Bronx, NY, Martin Russell, Brunswick, GA ; foster sister, Carol Osgood, St. Petersburg; sisters-in-law, Pastor Kathy W. (Arthur) Parker, Nichole (Paul) Ansley both of Jacksonville; godson, Marco (Thura) Smith, Sr., East Palatka; god daughter, Terrie Howell, Palatka; aunts & uncles, Alice (Lester) James, Palatka, Evelyn Sermon, Daytona; mother-in-law, Mother Ernestine Williams, Jacksonville; three grandchildren, one great-grand, and a host of relatives and loving friends. Visitation of family and friends will be 5-8 p.m., Friday, March 27, at "Flagg's Chapel of Serenity." Homegoing Celebration will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 28, at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 719 Reid Street, Palatka, Reverend James E. McGriff, Pastor-Eulogist. Interment will be in Palatka Memorial Gardens