Gloria Carter Spann
Encyclopedia
Gloria Carter Spann was the sister of former United States President
Jimmy Carter
.
and Lillian Gordy Carter
and was 24 months younger than her brother, Jimmy. By many accounts, Gloria was the smartest, most attractive, most outgoing, and most talented of the Carter children. As children competing for the affections of their parents, the relationship between Spann and the future President was somewhat strained but the two grew extremely close in their later years. Her brother Jimmy shot her with a BB gun when they were children.
Carter graduated from high school
in June 1944 and enrolled in Georgia Southwestern College
where she began to study journalism
. Her plans were deferred when she eloped in December 1945, marrying a war hero named William Everett from Americus
. The Carters disapproved of the match, as the groom was a former drug store clerk. This was not a suitable job for the well-to-do families at the time. The marriage produced a son, William Everett (Hardy) (1946-1997). Gloria returned to Georgia
in 1949 from Texas
, and her father, Earl Carter, was upset by the brutal beatings Gloria suffered at the hands of her husband. With the help of her father, Gloria had her marriage annulled in 1949. On December 15, 1950, Carter-Hardy married Walter Spann, a farmer from Webster County, Georgia
and he adopted the son of her first marriage. Walter and Gloria Spann produced no children of their own together, but the marriage lasted almost 40 years, until her death.
. Gloria was probably the sibling who shunned the spotlight most during her brother's years in office. Prior to Jimmy Carter's achieving the presidency in 1976, Spann had participated in several prior campaigns for her brother. In his bids for the governorship of Georgia, she made countless phone calls and mailed numerous pamphlets in order to win votes for Carter. Mrs. Spann maintained a relatively low profile as she and her husband, Walter, participated in cross-country cycling on their Harley-Davidson
motorcycles.
Mrs. Spann's son caused her great distress. He became a nocturnal wanderer and often stayed gone for three or four days at a time, leaving Mrs. Spann frantic. As her husband made good money, Gloria was not required to work, but since her son was continually expelled
from schools, Gloria Spann began work as a secretary in order to send her son to a private school. Gloria discussed her trouble with her evangelist
sister, Ruth Stapleton
. At Ruth's cabin in the mountains, Gloria picked up material that encourages the reader to give his problems to God
. Spann expected to be bored to sleep by the material but saw that it was something she could use and finally took her sister's advice on turning the situation over to God
.
William Carter Spann moved to California
in 1969 and Gloria turned her interests in other directions. William Spann often said that his mother rejected him and used this as a means to justify his unconventional behavior. Gloria Carter Spann did not see her son even once during the last twenty-one years of her life.
Though William had moved out to California and severed contact with his family, this did not keep him out of the spotlight. During Jimmy Carter
's 1976 Presidential campaign, the media's intense scrutiny found them at William's jail cell out in California. When interviewed about his uncle's success, he stated: "He's in the White House
, I'm in the big house." Gloria also received a phone call threatening to reveal that "Jimmy Carter's got a nephew in jail" if she did not pay a sum of money to keep the caller quiet.
During their years as motorcyclists, Gloria and her husband became "den mother" and father to the younger riders. The Spanns planted a large garden for the bikers each year and canned the vegetables to serve as they often had unexpected guests. Their farmhouse
was arranged for multiple cots or sleeping bags. Walter constructed a four-hole outhouse
to accommodate bikers who were cruising through the South or headed down to the races at Daytona
.
. The Spanns, both approaching 70, were looking forward to retiring to their farmhouse
and continuing their interest in motorcycles. The disease, as is common, was detected in its late stages when the only treatment is palliative care. Spann had been a smoker
but had broken the habit in the years prior to her death. Like her two younger siblings who had died of the disease during the 1980s, she declined life-extending treatment.
On March 5, 1990, Spann, 63, died of the disease. She was survived by her husband Walter, Jimmy Carter
, and her son, who has since died along with her grandson, Richard Andrew Spann (1984-2005). With the death of Spann's grandson, she has no living descendants. Gloria's parents and her sister, Ruth Stapleton
, and brother, Billy Carter
, had also died from pancreatic cancer. Gloria's tombstone reads, "She rides in Harley
Heaven
." Spann is buried in the Lebanon Church Cemetery
near Plains, Georgia
where her parents and brother, Billy Carter
, are also buried.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
.
Early years
Gloria Carter was the second of four children born to James Earl Carter, Sr.James Earl Carter, Sr.
James Earl Carter, Sr. was a Georgia businessman, farmer, and legislator from Plains, Georgia. He was the father of former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, William Alton "Billy" Carter , Gloria Carter Spann , and Ruth Carter Stapleton .After attending Riverside Military Academy...
and Lillian Gordy Carter
Lillian Gordy Carter
Lillian Gordy Carter was the mother of former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. She is also known for contribution to nursing in her home state of Georgia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in India as well as writing two books during the Carter presidency.-Nurse and mother:Carter was born...
and was 24 months younger than her brother, Jimmy. By many accounts, Gloria was the smartest, most attractive, most outgoing, and most talented of the Carter children. As children competing for the affections of their parents, the relationship between Spann and the future President was somewhat strained but the two grew extremely close in their later years. Her brother Jimmy shot her with a BB gun when they were children.
Carter graduated from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in June 1944 and enrolled in Georgia Southwestern College
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...
where she began to study journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Her plans were deferred when she eloped in December 1945, marrying a war hero named William Everett from Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
. The Carters disapproved of the match, as the groom was a former drug store clerk. This was not a suitable job for the well-to-do families at the time. The marriage produced a son, William Everett (Hardy) (1946-1997). Gloria returned to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1949 from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and her father, Earl Carter, was upset by the brutal beatings Gloria suffered at the hands of her husband. With the help of her father, Gloria had her marriage annulled in 1949. On December 15, 1950, Carter-Hardy married Walter Spann, a farmer from Webster County, Georgia
Webster County, Georgia
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census reflected a population of 2,390. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 2,192. The county seat is Preston.-History:...
and he adopted the son of her first marriage. Walter and Gloria Spann produced no children of their own together, but the marriage lasted almost 40 years, until her death.
Carter presidency: 1977-1981
Although she had some level of fame of her own before Jimmy's election, she was not forced into the spotlight until her brother was elected PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
. Gloria was probably the sibling who shunned the spotlight most during her brother's years in office. Prior to Jimmy Carter's achieving the presidency in 1976, Spann had participated in several prior campaigns for her brother. In his bids for the governorship of Georgia, she made countless phone calls and mailed numerous pamphlets in order to win votes for Carter. Mrs. Spann maintained a relatively low profile as she and her husband, Walter, participated in cross-country cycling on their Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
motorcycles.
Mrs. Spann's son caused her great distress. He became a nocturnal wanderer and often stayed gone for three or four days at a time, leaving Mrs. Spann frantic. As her husband made good money, Gloria was not required to work, but since her son was continually expelled
Expulsion (academia)
Expulsion or exclusion refers to the permanent removal of a student from a school system or university for violating that institution's rules. Laws and procedures regarding expulsion vary between countries and states.-State sector:...
from schools, Gloria Spann began work as a secretary in order to send her son to a private school. Gloria discussed her trouble with her evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
sister, Ruth Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
. At Ruth's cabin in the mountains, Gloria picked up material that encourages the reader to give his problems to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. Spann expected to be bored to sleep by the material but saw that it was something she could use and finally took her sister's advice on turning the situation over to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
William Carter Spann moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1969 and Gloria turned her interests in other directions. William Spann often said that his mother rejected him and used this as a means to justify his unconventional behavior. Gloria Carter Spann did not see her son even once during the last twenty-one years of her life.
Though William had moved out to California and severed contact with his family, this did not keep him out of the spotlight. During Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's 1976 Presidential campaign, the media's intense scrutiny found them at William's jail cell out in California. When interviewed about his uncle's success, he stated: "He's in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, I'm in the big house." Gloria also received a phone call threatening to reveal that "Jimmy Carter's got a nephew in jail" if she did not pay a sum of money to keep the caller quiet.
During their years as motorcyclists, Gloria and her husband became "den mother" and father to the younger riders. The Spanns planted a large garden for the bikers each year and canned the vegetables to serve as they often had unexpected guests. Their farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
was arranged for multiple cots or sleeping bags. Walter constructed a four-hole outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
to accommodate bikers who were cruising through the South or headed down to the races at Daytona
Daytona
Daytona may refer to:* Daytona Beach, Florida* Daytona Beach Shores, Florida* South Daytona, Florida-Motor racing:* Daytona Beach Road Course* Daytona International Speedway, a NASCAR speedway, which hosts:** the Daytona 500 NASCAR race...
.
Death
In the fall of 1989, Spann learned that she had pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. The Spanns, both approaching 70, were looking forward to retiring to their farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
and continuing their interest in motorcycles. The disease, as is common, was detected in its late stages when the only treatment is palliative care. Spann had been a smoker
Smoker
Smoker is a noun derived from "smoke"/"smoking" and may have the following specialized meanings:* Someone who smokes tobacco or cannabis, cigarette substitutes, or various other drugs* Smoking , smoker, an apparatus for smoking...
but had broken the habit in the years prior to her death. Like her two younger siblings who had died of the disease during the 1980s, she declined life-extending treatment.
On March 5, 1990, Spann, 63, died of the disease. She was survived by her husband Walter, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, and her son, who has since died along with her grandson, Richard Andrew Spann (1984-2005). With the death of Spann's grandson, she has no living descendants. Gloria's parents and her sister, Ruth Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
, and brother, Billy Carter
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
, had also died from pancreatic cancer. Gloria's tombstone reads, "She rides in Harley
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
." Spann is buried in the Lebanon Church Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
near Plains, Georgia
Plains, Georgia
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Notable people:...
where her parents and brother, Billy Carter
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
, are also buried.
Sources
- http://www.bikerrogue.com/Articles/Bros_Events/goodbye_gloria.htm
- http://www.bassharp.com/bspress.htm
- http://www.hdfoundation.org/testread/family.html
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E1DE1F39F93BA2575BC0A964948260
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DF1538F932A35751C1A96F948260&n=Top%2FNews%2FHealth%2FDiseases%2C%20Conditions%2C%20and%20Health%20Topics%2FCancer
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD8103DF934A35750C0A966958260