Gloria was the daughter of Rev William Holmes and Louise Gibbs Holmes. Her family relocated to Harlem, New York when she and her sister, Geraldine were young. She was educated in the New York City School System were she served as Student Council Vice President of her Junior High School, Civil Defense Warden and Hall & Plant Monitor and had perfect attendance. After marrying her first husband, she moved back to Passaic, New Jersey. She was employed with the New Jersey State Department of Human Resources as a Day Training Technician at the Passaic County Day Training Center in Totowa, New Jersey where she worked with mentally challenged children and young adults for 18 years. She was an active member of the Passaic Urban Crisis Program, Vice-President of the Passaic High School P.T.A. and President of the Ghannettes Women's Social Club where she and fellow club members helped raise funds to establish a Day Care Center at Mt Moriah Baptist Church in the early 1970's. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina after her second marriage.

She was a member of Little Rock AME Zion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was active in several AME Churches during her lifetime where she served as a Choir Member, advisor to the Junior Usher Board, Sunday School Teacher, Steward Board, Trustee Board, Secretary/Treasurer, Deaconess Board, Kindness Ministry, Women's Home & Overseas Missionary Society(Life Matron), Lay Council(Life Member) and the AME Church Historical Society(Life Member). Starting in 1989, she served as Administrative Assistant of the AME Zion Quarterly Review & Historical Society in Charlotte, North Carolina where her second husband was Editor/Historical Secretary.

She was married to Hezekiah Griggs Sr until his passing. She married Rev Dr James David Armstrong on June 15, 1985. She was preceded in death by 1 sister, Geraldine Holmes Dupree and 1 grandson, Hezekiah Griggs III.

Survivors:
3 Daughters: Robin Dawkins Khan(Gul), Rene Griggs and Michelle Griggs(Eric).
2 Sons: Hezekiah Griggs Jr and Arthur Griggs(Millie).
1 Daughter-In-Law: Sharon Griggs.
12 Grandchildren: Anthony Dawkins, Shakeis Williams, Iesha Griggs, Ashley Griggs(Lanita), Shafon Griggs(Willie), Sharee Griggs, Ashanti Griggs, Shannell Griggs, Fazal Samad, Arthur Griggs Jr, Alexis Griggs and Amya Reed.
9 Great Grandchildren, 1 Great Great Grandchild.

Services were held Friday, July 1, 2022 at 1PM in the Chapel of East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton, New Jersey.