Spotlight on Auntie Gladys

Hi, Everyone!

I am absolutely gonna love today’s Black History Spotlight, because it shines upon another Rust College alumna who I’ve gotten to know quite well. She is my Gramma Jewel’s very best friend of 60 years, and she is my honorary auntie—I’m talking about Gladys Lorraine Nelson (nee Williams).

Born the eldest of three daughters on December 5, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Bradley and Eileen Williams, Auntie Gladys just exudes flair, flamboyance and finesse. She is also a true Southern gal at heart; one of her favorite saying is: “Ooh, Child—you need to rewind that tape and re-record!”

Auntie Gladys grew up in the midst of segregation and the Great Depression, but she was not exposed to the troubles of this world, all because she remembered that her parents taught her to let The Lord handle it. Since then, Auntie Gladys has done as much as humanly possible to do just that, and she makes sure that others learn that same valuable lesson.

After graduating from high school, Auntie Gladys attended Rust College, where she graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Print Journalism and Broadcast Journalism—a double major, if you will. It was also at Rust where she found a best friend for life in one Vivian Jewel Coleman. To this very day, the two friends have become more like sisters.

After college, Auntie Gladys met and married Fred Nelson, and to this union three children were born. She also was the first woman to be named the editor-in-chief of the Memphis Mania magazine. She served in said position for forty years, until her retirement in 1997. Amazingly enough, her last article ever published was entitled “Well, Y’all—It’s Been Fun!”

When her husband passed away in 1999, Auntie Gladys decided to volunteer as a caretaker for the elderly. She says that she gets a kick out of caring for those seniors on account of they call her “little girl” and “young lady.” When she tells them her age, they scoff and say that she’s still a baby.

Auntie Gladys, I salute you today. Keep it classy, Young Lady!

Tomorrow’s Final Spotlight: Thelma Jean Davis!

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha