Gloria Combre was born to Mildred Carrier and Van Banks on November 18, 1931 in Lake Charles Louisiana.  She was baptized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School for both elementary and high school. At Sacred Heart she met lifelong friends.  Because she entered school early, she was always amongst the youngest in her class and took pride in this fact.

After high school, Gloria moved to Philadelphia to live with her aunt and attended Rosemont College.   In the city, she acquired a love for fashion, the arts, and travel. These loves she introduced and passed to her daughters.

Upon returning home to Lake Charles, Gloria entered the workforce.  First she worked as a teacher at Sacred Heart School then she worked as an assistant to Dr. Powell, a local dentist and photographer. She would eventually acquire Powell's photography studio and become a photographer herself. Through the years, countless numbers of Lake Charles residents reminded her or her family members of the fond memories they had of her taking their family, school, first communion, or wedding pictures, or being their first grade teacher.

In 1957, she married the love of her life Warren Houston Combre, a high school classmate.  As they raised six children, her work turned to volunteerism with numerous civic and social organizations.  Gloria worked on political campaigns for Louisiana's gubernatorial and congressional race in the 1970s and her husband's successful bids for school board.  She was a member of the Doretha A. Combre Business and Professional Women Association and Silhouette Social Club for many years.

Gloria was very active in her children's schools, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, Hamilton Elementary, and Pearl Watson, having served as room mother on multiple occasions and PTA president.  When Warren and Gloria's youngest child was born with Downs Syndrome and a congenital heart defect, Gloria worked tirelessly on fundraising campaigns for the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, and Calcasieu Association of Retarded Citizens (CARC).  She served on boards and committees for both Christus St. Patrick's Hospital and the Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles.  In 1984, Pope John Paul II sent a special blessing through Rev. Louis G. Perreault, C.S. Sp. to Gloria and Warren in recognition for their contributions to the Christian community of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Warren Combre, son Eric, mother Mildred Carrier Syas, step-father James C. Syas, and father Van Banks.  She is survived by daughters Susan Combre, Charlotte Combre, and Marsha Combre all of Atlanta, Georgia; her sons Warren (Carla) Combre II and Marcus (Hope) Combre of Lake Charles; four grandsons Logan Fontenot, Gage Melancon, Nicholas Combre, and Joshua Combre; and one granddaughter Samoan Combre; and sister, Janis (Stanley) Syas-Porche'.  She will be remembered by a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, two sisters-in-law, two goddaughters , other relatives and friends.