Gloria Athena Georges Weatherly

Gloria and Bob Weatherly along with their three daughters, Nancy, Julie and Joanne moved to Hammond, Louisiana from St. Louis, Missouri in 1963. For the next 42 years, Gloria influenced the lives of thousands of students as a vocal music and piano teacher and later as a counselor. She began her career as an itinerant vocal music teacher at Champ Cooper, Hammond Eastside in downtown Hammond and Loranger Elementary School. She later served as the vocal music teacher for just the Loranger schools before transferring to Hammond High School in the early 1970's as the vocal music and piano teacher.

Yearly she conducted students in Christmas and end of the year performances.
Throughout the school year, it was not unusual for her to take students to community functions to share their talents with others.

Gloria pursued additional training as a counselor and became a part-time music teacher and counselor. Later she was a full time counselor when Hammond High moved to its current location and paved the way for Joanne to take her place as the vocal music and piano teacher while also assuming the position of band director in 1983.

During the summers, Gloria often assisted Bob with the annual musical programs at Southeastern. She even performed in the play, Fiddler on the Roof, as the "Yenta" or matchmaker, while Julie danced and Joanne played the violin-a true family affair!

While at Hammond High School, she also helped produce the first interdepartmental dinner theatre, "70 Girls 70". Throughout her career Gloria Weatherly challenged students to do their best and set the bar of excellence high.

Many churches in our community benefited from the talent she developed through the years as singers and piano players. She will be remembered for years to come for ALL she did to influence the lives of students as a teacher and counselor.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Julie Cefalu (Joe, M.D.) and Joanne Weatherly; grandchildren, Robert J. Martel, Nicholas J. Martel, Joseph M. Cefalu, Jr., Blake M. Cefalu, and Lauren E. Cefalu Barclay (Scott); and great-grandchildren, Madison Kate Barclay and Mason Michael Barclay.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Olga Papademetriu Georges Kiriakos; father, John Georges; step-father, John Kiriakos; husband, Robert "Bob" Weatherly; and daughter, Nancy Weatherly Martel.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Hammond, 2000 N. Morrison Boulevard, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Friday, October 27, 2023, beginning at 11:00 AM until the funeral service begins at 1:00 PM. 

Interment will follow in Rose Memorial Park Cemetery, Hammond, Louisiana.