Gloria Jean Babcock

Gloria Jean Babcock, 56, International Mystery Mistress of Merrymaking, passed away unexpectedly in her home in Asheville, North Carolina on Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 due to a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Glo, as her friends and family called her, was born on June 15th, 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rose Marie (Hansen) Babcock and Albert Erven Babcock. She was the second youngest in a tight-knit family of 8. She graduated high school at West High School in Minneapolis. In 1995, in the Joshua Tree desert, she gave birth to the light of her life, Dumaine Joto Babcock. Glo worked in many capacities as an artist, entrepreneur, caregiver, performer, bartender, hairdresser, and ritual officiant, with Dumaine always as the sun at the center of her solar system, her family and family-of-friends the supportive planets in orbit.

Glo is preceded in death by her father, Albert, and her brother Thomas. She is survived by her beloved son Dumaine of Atlanta, GA, her Mother Rose Marie of Minneapolis, her siblings James Babcock, Bonita Hoffman, Marjorie Babcock, and Sharon McCabe, all of Minnesota, many nieces and nephews, the countless devoted friends whom she loved like family, and her beloved dog Olive.

Glo was a deeply spiritual person who imbued artfulness, sacredness, and magic into all aspects of her life, from officiating rituals, to cooking amazing meals, to crafting beautiful cocktails. She possessed a powerful, healing presence, though she was never too serious, nor did she take herself seriously. Her laughter, wit, and humor were incandescent, and she radiated joy into every space she occupied. A consummate artist, Glo loved to costume extravagantly, to sew and paint and decorate and adorn every surface and person within her reach. And Glo’s reach was wide. Her friendships spanned the continent and the globe, and she loved to travel to and with her many friends. Glo will be best remembered as one who nourished her loved ones deeply with her generosity of spirit and wisdom of life experience. Glo loved exuberantly and lived her life to the hilt with grace and beauty. She will be deeply missed.

A memorial fire and altar will be set up on Saturday, March 28th from 10am – 10pm at the corner of Washington Road and Broad Street in Downtown Asheville for Glo’s loved ones to pay respects, while observing the current necessary social distancing protocol.

Donations in Glo’s honor can be made to support Dumaine with Glo’s end-of-life arrangements at www.gofundme.com/f/we-love-you-dumaine or by mail to 5 LaRue Street, Asheville, NC 28806.