Obituary: Glenda Dyer Mead

Glenda Dyer Mead, 76, of Winter Garden, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on March 13, 2024.

Glenda was the embodiment of grace, strength and dignity. She loved Jesus and was the rock of her family. She was a fierce mama bear to her siblings and children, a fairy godmother to all she loved, and a Dear Abby to everyone from her coworkers to people she met on the street. 

She was born to James Donald “JD” Dyer and Evelyn Adams Dyer, in Orlando, Florida, in 1947. She grew up in tenement housing in the Central Florida orange groves following the seasonal work. Her family eventually settled in Ocoee, Florida, in late 1959, in time to spend her high school years at Ocoee High School, graduating in 1965.

Glenda was married to William “Bill” Whitley Mead, her “Sweet William.” They were married for 47 years until his passing in 2020. Through him and her first husband, Roger Meadows, she is survived by her babies, Kristen Meadows Crane and Denise Mead; son-in-law, Charlie Crane; former son-in-law, Ron Hall; and her beloved grandson, Dillon Hall. As the oldest of seven siblings, she is predeceased by brother, Glenn Dyer; and survived by her brothers, Bruce (Joanne) Dyer, Geno (Tina) Dyer and Jeff (Andrea) Dyer; and her sisters, Joyce (Jeff) Kerlin and Sherry Joan (Mike) Crane. Through marriage, she is survived by Charles “Chuck” Mead.

After graduation from high school, Glenda started working in the medical field, starting at West Orange Memorial Hospital, then for Dr. E.S. Prada and finally for Dr. Raymond Gilmer. Through hard work and tenacity, she moved up the ranks and became the practice administrator for then, Gilmer, Cox & Associates, now West Orange Orthopaedics, for more than 40 years. After “retirement,” she became the legal secretary for Dr. Paul J. Maluso, until retiring again this past December 2023.  While working with a dedication unmatched, she also created and owned her dream clothing store, Theodora’s Creations, for a time in the late 1980s. Glenda loved her family deeply and their dreams became hers. This led to her becoming the manager for The Dyer Brother’s Band, her brother’s country music band that played major Orlando venues in the early 80s. She was a dream-maker and entrepreneur for her children and siblings, creating jobs, small businesses and family ventures to ensure her families success. 

Work was her hobby, but she also loved flower arranging, decorating, time with close friends and playing fairy godmother to her people. She loved nothing more than taking someone shopping, and she always knew unerringly what would work for every occasion. She was a mother to many and loved that she was known and adored as “grandma” in her favorite spots in downtown Winter Garden.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at her church, First Baptist Church of Winter Garden, 125 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida. A reception and celebration will follow the service in the church basement.