Gloria LaVerne Borders flight departed for Eternity on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 4:15a.m. She heard the call and did not hesitate at all... LaVerne was born on May 6, 1955 to Kenneth Borders and the late Lucy Jones Borders. She was an alumna of Woodrow Wilson High School and West Virginia State College where she received degrees in Business Management and Business Administration. A retired telephone operator with C&P telephone company, she was currently employed by The American Red Cross. LaVerne was a member of St. Paul Baptist Temple where she served faithfully until her sudden illness. With a Spirit of Excellence she served as the financial clerk for the church, the Women's Ministry. church decorator, Pastors Aid project coordinator and was a faithful participant in the Wednesday Noon-day Intercessory Ministry. LaVerne was an awesome seamstress and always wore her own original one of a kind design. In addition to her mother whom she loved very much, she was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth "Booney" Borders, cousins, Anthony "Scrap" Walters, Lorraine and Robert Clifford Jones, Anthony Ray Walters, and several aunts and uncles. Left to share precious memories are her father, Kenneth Borders; brother, Franklin Dewayne Borders; three sisters, Debra Borders and Stephanie Borders of Beckley, and Sharon Borders of Pontiac Mich.; two nieces her parents raised and whom she thought of and loved as her baby sisters, Joneece Borders of Beckley and Moneece Borders of Pontiac, Mich.; nieces and nephews, the "apple of her eye" her Byron A.L. Newbold, Renee McInnis, Nicole, Miranda, Cathy, Franklin Jr., and Charles Borders, all of Beckley and Johnathan of Pontiac, Mich.; several great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, March 12, 2011, at St. Paul Baptist Temple, 129 Rice Street, Beckley, with Rev. Walter M. Leach officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the church. Condolences may be e-mailed to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail. com Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.