Cleo Joseph McGlory was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on May 27, 1947, to Lee and Roberta McGlory. He was the eighth of eleven children. Cleo accepted Christ at an early age while attending Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Stillwater, along with his family. He was baptized by Rev. John A. Reed, Sr. He received his early religious training under Pastor Reed and later Pastor Willard Dallas. He united with Fairview Baptist Church in the early 70’s under Pastor John A. Reed, Jr., but later had to relocate due to his employment. Upon his return to Oklahoma City, he reunited with Fairview in August 1988, where he remained faithful until his death. Cleo was a keen student and advocate of education. He began his educational journey in Stillwater, where he attended grades one through eight at Washington School. He received his high school diploma from C.E. Donart High School (now Stillwater High School} in May 1965. Cleo attended and graduated from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He was the 3rd child and first son of the McGlory family to receive his college degree. He later attended Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and graduated with a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration. His teaching profession was in math in Red Rock, Stillwater, and Millwood School Districts. He worked in school administration as Assistant Principal/Principal in Stillwater, Bartlesville, and Oklahoma City School Districts. He retired from Northwest Classen High School after nearly 34 years of service in the field of education. His passion for education took him back to the classroom following his retirement, working as a substitute teacher. He touched the lives of many students while working as a substitute in Edmond Public Schools. He began each class with words of wisdom and encouragement. The students absolutely loved and respected “Mr. McGlory”. Cleo was a champion in sports. He was State Wrestling Champion in his freshman and senior year at C. E. Donart (Stillwater) High School and made the all-American team. In his senior year he was selected as an exchange student to go to Japan. While attending OU, he was the first Black to win the NCAA Wrestling Championship. He was three-time All American from 1967 to 1969; 1969 Sooner NCAA Champion; Individual Conference Champion and Oklahoma letter winner in 1967. Cleo believed in the Biblical principles of family. He honored his father and mother and was submissive in his role within the family. On February 5, 1967, he married Christine (Herndon) McGlory and remained faithful to her until her death on November 13, 2000. This union produced two children, Darius and Amy. On February 22, 2006, Cleo married Paula (Derrick) Anderson. This union was the beginning of a blended McGlory family that included three sons, three daughters, and fifteen grandchildren.
Cleo enjoyed spending time with all of his grandchildren, taking them to Church, to the park, and having Grandparents/Grandchildren Days. He was affectionately referred to as “PaPa,” “Grandpa,” and ‘’Poppy.’’ He will truly be missed by his grandchildren. Cleo was a true example of the meaning of the Great Commission. He was a student of the WORD and understood the BIBLE from front to back. He had the gift of quoting Scriptures. His life was the Blueprint of what serving God should look like. Cleo had a lifetime passion for the work of evangelism. Witnessing to the lost and unsaved or unchurched and always sharing Gospel Tracts is what Cleo did each day. Minister McGlory served faithfully until the end. He was licensed to Preach the Gospel at the Fairview Baptist Church on October 20, 1996, and later ordained to the Work of the Gospel Ministry on July 18, 1999, both ordered by Pastor John A. Reed, Jr. He served faithfully at Fairview as Deacon, Associate Minister, Teacher for the Evangelism Class, Evangelism Minister, Bus Ministry Director (and bus driver), and was actively involved in Prison Ministry, Men’s Ministry and the Singing Churchmen. He attended the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education for a number of years, where he received course credits in Christian Education. He was certified as an instructor by the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. He taught courses in Fairview’s Christian Leadership School, the East Zion Consolidated District Congress of Christian Education and the Oklahoma Baptist State Congress of Christian Education. He was the Evangelism Coordinator for the Baptist Minister’s Association of Oklahoma City and for the Concerned Clergy for Spiritual Renewal. He also served as a resource and consultant in the area of Evangelism for churches throughout the city and state. Minister McGlory’s life’s journey came to a close on the morning of May 19, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Amy McGlory; two sons, Christopher Robinson and Julius Derrick; a grandson, Alec McGlory; one brother, Paul L. McGlory; and four sisters, Doris Ella Franklin, Helen Lucille Murray, Irene Moses and Clemetine Morgan. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Paula McGlory; his son, Darius McGlory (Heather); his daughters, Tamara Derrick and Tiamber Naff (DeJuan); grandchildren, Riley McGlory, Montavious Heard, Ziraya Seals, Nathaniel Seals, Nicoli Green, Kiairra Robinson, Barakaya Seals, Jewell Derrick, Ahmayanya Seals, Olivia Lockwood, Malakhi Derrick, August McGlory, Remy McGlory, and A’Sata Naff, all of Greater Oklahoma City ; two brothers, Charles Lee McGlory (Sharon Lynn), Bartlesville, OK, and Eugene W. McGlory, Stillwater, OK; four sisters, Leona Edwards, Spring, TX, Dora Ann Staley (Jesse), Wichita, KS, E. Fay Brake (Earl), Mitchellville, MD and Sonya D. Gaines, Saginaw, TX; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, and the Fairview Church Family. “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23)
Order of Service Processional
Remarks (Limit two minutes)
Ministers, Funeral Directors, Family
Kathleen House James Tobler Charles Lee McGlory Tiamber Naff
Scripture Reading Old Testament ~ Rev. Anthony Rhone New Testament ~ Rev. James E. Reed, Sr. Prayer
Selection “God Has Smiled on Me”
Rev. E. Jennings Tyson Selection
Words of Comfort Pastor John A. Reed, Jr.
“Blessed Assurance” Resolutions and Acknowledgement
Video Tribute Recessional Ministers, Funeral Directors, Family “Let the Church Say Amen”
God Has Spoken Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 10:9-10: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”