Gloria Karpinski
1935 - 2025
Gloria Karpinski died peacefully on May 27, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Born Gloria Dawn Gilmore to Carl and Elizabeth Gilmore on December 11, 1935 in Roanoke, Virginia. She was a curious, imaginative and artistic child. She attended Greensboro Senior High, where she was May Queen. She graduated from Woman’s College, later known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in English and Psychology. Gloria taught at Aycock Junior High, wrote for a Greensboro newspaper, had a column in Home Furnishings Daily, and served as Information Director at Old Salem. In 1958, she gave birth to a son Carlton and in1959 a daughter Dawn.
Gloria, after study, training, and much self-exploration became a psychospiritual teacher. She designed and led workshops nationally and internationally. Women and Wisdom, a non-profit Greensboro organization, which encourages people to awaken their inner wisdom and passionate creativity to benefit humanity, sponsored Gloria in 1979 for her first of many New York workshops. Women and Wisdom has continued to give loving and devoted support for Gloria’s work throughout the rest of her life. In her work, Gloria facilitated and celebrated individuals’ discovery of the Divine Mother and Light within us all. She enabled the connection and establishment of a deep relationship to Spirit through her charismatic teaching, meditations, life readings, and writing.
Gloria was also a published author with Where Two Worlds Touch, Barefoot on Holy Ground, and Midnight Rainbows, A Memoir. Her website Center Circle offers wisdom and images that inspire. She liked nothing better than supporting another in their growth through word and deed. Center Circle may be reached through www.gloriakarpinski.com
Surviving are son Carlton Walden Karpinski (Leslie), their three sons, Patrick, Kevin (Kaycie), and Alex (Kenzie), and daughter Dawn Elizabeth Hall (Mitch), and their son Joshua (Heather) and their daughter Kristin (TJ). Gloria has 8 great-grandchildren. She was an adoring grandmother, known as GG.
Donations to Trellis Hospice in Winston Salem and Women and Wisdom Foundation will be gratefully received in Gloria’s name. www.trellissupport.org www.womenandwisdom.com
Gloria changed my life in so many ways. I will forever be grateful for her teachings, her wisdom, her compassion and understandings far beyond this lifetime. She taught me, inter alia, much about how to put on my shoes and walk in this world. 💜
Gloria touched my life in profound ways. Her amazing spiritual gifts set me on my own spiritual road and started me on my journey. Since my first encounter with her I have never looked back. May she be blessed always.
As a friend, mentor and spiritual teacher, Gloria was a lodestar for me. She walked the path that she taught, gathering in myself and so many others as she moved through the world. I was blessed and grateful to know her in this lifetime. Hugs and love to you always, Gloria.
I shall always have the deepest Gratitude for Gloria’s Presence in my life. It has been the richest Blessing to receive her luminous teachings, sweet friendship and delightful company. Her Light is Eternal.
Gloria was my Spiritual Mentor for over 40 years and the catalyst for my spiritual transformation. Her wisdom guided so many of my life decisions and inspired me to pursue the work I chose in life. From my first workshop with her in Asheville, NC, to her inspirational books, to the transcendent Spiritual Journeys together to Bali and Greece, she was an ever-present example of unconditional love and spiritual power in the feminine body. She Christened my two youngest children and then served as a powerful role model for both of my daughters, leaving a multi-generational legacy of spiritual guidance for which I am deeply grateful. Although I am sad that she didn’t make it to Serenity Ranch here in Florida for the respite she planned and so deserved, I will remain connected with her in Spirit forever, and her voice will live in my Soul to be shared with everyone on my path.
I started to think of all the ways Gloria impacted my life…truly her words and teachings come to mind every single day and are an essential part of my daily life. I call her words “Gloria-isms” and decided to start collecting them in my notes to share. Also, I call my GPS, “Gloria,” as she is a guiding light in my life.
Gloria –Isms
Worrying is like praying for something you don’t want
Find the poise in the chaos
Not which 15 things can I do, but which are THE few tools that work for me
When doing something challenging, remember…Privilege, not pressure
All the way to heaven is heaven, Catherine of Sienna
When speaking to a group, ask yourself…what gift can I give them, rather than, how am I doing?
Prayers:
I am the daughter of the mother father God, only that which is for my highest could shall come to me…only that which is light shall come from me. For the privilege of being able to serve… I give thanks…thank you mother father God
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Show me the perfect thing to do today and do it perfectly through me
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Beloved creator, here’s my heart, fill it with love
Here is my mind, fill it with truth
Here’s my body, fill it with renewal
Here is my spirit, fill it with faith
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I awaken and remember, I am one with the mother, one with the father and one with all that is
—-Poems she shared—-
Lawrence Ferlingetti poem: Buddhist in the Woodpile
David Whyte poem: Barefoot on Holy Ground (also named her book after)
Rumi: Where Two Worlds Touch (also named her book after)
—-Books she recommended to me—-
Sabbath, Wayne Muller
Tattoos on the Heart, Gregory Boyle
—Places and People she recommended —-
Lauren Artress, Veriditas (Labyrinth)
Chartres Cathedral, France (Black Madonna and labyrinth)
Sophia Institute, Charleston, Carolyn Rivera and Henk Brandt
Women and Wisdom Foundation
“You can pray all day, but if you swear at the cab driver, that’s your prayer for the day.” One of many. I was so privileged to attend the original W&W workshops in NYC with Gloria, had private counsel, flew to NC to attend a spectacular workshop. Angel Cards!!! She opened so much of me and set me on this outrageous fantastic life path. I got to channel for her at the NC workshop. She was magical and irreverent. Shall we call her Saint Gloria? Thankyou Gay Baynes!
I had the pleasure of meeting Gloria in 1972 where she and her family resided in an up and coming highly sought out family neighborhood name. “Sherwood Forest”. Her daughter Dawn and I quickly formed an inseparable bond. My initial impression of Mrs.Karpinski was her stunning beauty, poise, and larger-than-life presence. From then on and for many decades. I considered the Karpinski’s as family. Gloria will be deeply missed. I am left with wonderful memories,
Much love and respect!
Amy Fox