On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Mrs. Gladys Kerns died peacefully at her home surrounded by her loved ones at the age of 97.

Gladys was born November 4, 1923 in Fairmont, NC to Carl Clark and Florence Carter Clark.

She graduated from Fairmont Normal School in Fairmont, NC in 1931. She worked on her father's farm before entering public work as a waitress in 1948 in Fairmont and Lumberton, NC. She loved her waitress job. Gladys was a charismatic, fun loving person who loved to meet the public and served them in a quality capacity. She met her husband in 1953 in Lumberton, NC and they married on July 6, 1953. She then became a full-time house wife and mother to her husband and five children.

Gladys enjoyed cleaning her home, cooking and raising her children. God could not have chosen a better person for the job of being a mother to her children. She always praised God for her children and lived up to every word in Proverbs 31. Her children adored her, and they reciprocated the passionate love Gladys had for them.

Gladys attended Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Fairmont, NC during her childhood years, a church her father and many of his friends helped organize during his life time. She served the Lord since the age of 15. She was a member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Lumberton, NC. She loved the church family and enjoyed testifying every Sunday about what an awesome God she served. The church family were always inspired by her testimony. She loved to say, "Get behind me Devil and don't push." Gladys left a definite legacy for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She told all of them to serve God and he would give them what they needed.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jack Kerns; two sons, Dwight Kerns and Wyman Kerns; six sisters, Annie Lou Hunt, Cordia Val Jones, Clementine (Tina) Bartley, Aulitha Jacobs, Patricia C. Hunt, and Janice Davis; and two brothers, Adnel Clark and Carlton Clark.

Gladys is survived by two daughters, Jackie Kerns of the Home, and Mrs. Joan Tyner and husband Barry of Raeford, NC; one son, Gary Kerns and wife Betty of Lumberton, NC; three grandsons, Dwayne Kerns of Swan Quarter, NC, Carlos R. Tyler and wife Angela of Fairmont, NC, and Rando Tyler and wife Marie of Raeford, NC; one granddaughter, Santanna S. Tyler and fiancé Michael Byrd of Lumberton, NC; 10 great grandchildren, Jacob Tyler, Lagan Tyler, Layke Tyler, Jaydon Tyler, Braydon Tyler, Aiden Tyler, Shayna Tyler, China Tyler, Nevada Tyler, and Sayoka Tyler;

Her caregivers, Lakotah Locklear, Geneva Barron of Pembroke, NC, Retha McNeill of Lumberton, NC, Amedisys Hospice and Staff of Pembroke, NC; four incredibly special friends, her neighbors, R.J. Oxendine and wife Ruth of Fairmont, NC, Andrew Hammonds and wife Terri of Lumberton, NC; and a host of relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday June 30, 2021 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Floyd Funeral Services Chapel in Fairmont, NC.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday June 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Floyd Funeral Services Chapel in Fairmont, NC with Pastor Doug Campbell and the Rev. Gary Deese officiating. Interment will follow at Lumbee Memorial Gardens in Pembroke, NC.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Grace Missionary Baptist Church, 1127 Rowan Road, Lumberton, NC 28358.