Gloria Gipson Suggs, a native and resident of Marshall County Mississippi, attended Henry Elementary (one and two room) School near Slayden, MS and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Holly Springs, MS. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Rust College in Holly Springs. Gloria earned a Master Degree in Curriculum Development and Instruction at Memphis State University, now University of Memphis, in Memphis, TN. Suggs taught school in Tennessee in the public and private sectors for over 28 years. She taught the first two years of her teaching career in Clarksdale City Schools, Clarksdale, MS.  Suggs served as program director and coordinator for the alternative program for Marshall County and Holly Springs School Districts.

She has received the following awards for her art from the following organizations: Mississippi Arts Commission-Folk Arts Fellowship Grant for   2024; South Arts 2022 "Excellence in The Arts Award" for the state of Mississippi; Grand Marshall for the Lessye Lee Davis Parade 2023; The Double Decker Artist Merit Award 2008, Oxford, MS; Rust College Lyceum Series 2012; Woman of the Year of Award of Women’s History Celebration, Burns United Methodist Church, Oxford, MS 2012.

Gloria has been spotlighted on: Channel 9 of Tupelo, MS, Fox 13, WMC TV5, ABC 24 and 30 of Memphis, TN, WURC of Rust College and WKNA of Holly Springs, MS have spotlighted Suggs’ work. Gloria has exhibited in Ida B. Wells Museum, Marshall County Museum, Annie’s Restaurant and Gallery 56   Holly Springs, MS: Martin Luther King Civil Rights Museum, The Black Arts Gallery, D. Edge Art Gallery in Memphis, TN. Gloria has participated in the following arts and crafts festivals: DuSable Museum, Chicago, IL; The Gathering, Nashville, TN; Art Festival Corinth, MS; Pilgrimage Festival, Holly Springs, MS, May Fest Festival Senatobia, MS; The Festive Lights  Festival South Haven, MS; Art Festival Ripley, MS; Germantown Festival Germantown, TN; Meet and Great the Artist  Atlanta, GA; Pink Palace Museum Craft Festival Memphis, TN, What's Poppin Memphis, N, and the Double Decker Oxford, MS. The Commercial Appeal, The South Reporter, The Busy Bee, and Tupelo Sunday Journal have written about Suggs’ work.

Suggs exhibited her work and conducted workshops at The B.J. Chain Public Library, Olive Branch, MS, La Fayette County & Oxford Public Library in Oxford, MS, and the Corinth Public Library in Corinth, MS. Gloria presented her work at the 2012 Lyceum Series at Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. 

Gloria Gipson Suggs wrote her first book, Wind-blown Memories, in 1988. Her second book, Reflections in Black and White with Shades of Red, Yellow, and Brown was written in 1998. Her book called Piece-A-Way Crossroads was written in 2013. It was redesigned in 2023. She produced her first single record called, “Steep is the Stairway to Heaven” in 1983. Suggs produced an album of eight contemporary gospel songs called “Such A Beautiful Day” on CD in 1990.Gloria was a movie extra in The Client in 1990.

Gloria is married to Franklin Suggs of Chulahoma, MS.  They have two children, Michael and Linda, a son-in-law, Horacio, and a grandson, Langston.  Gloria is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Holly Springs, MS.nry Elementary (one and two room) School near Slayden, MS and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Holly Springs, MS. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Rust College in Holly Springs. Gloria earned a Master Degree in Curriculum Development and Instruction at Memphis State University, now University of Memphis, in Memphis, TN. Suggs taught school in Tennessee in the public and private sectors for over 28 years. She taught the first two years of her teaching career in Clarksdale City Schools, Clarksdale, MS.  Suggs served as program director and coordinator for the alternative program for Marshall County and Holly Springs School Districts.

She has received the following awards for her art from the following organizations: Mississippi Arts Commission-Folk Arts Fellowship Grant for   2024; South Arts 2022 "Excellence in The Arts Award" for the state of Mississippi; Grand Marshall for the Lessye Lee Davis Parade 2023; The Double Decker Artist Merit Award 2008, Oxford, MS; Rust College Lyceum Series 2012; Woman of the Year of Award of Women’s History Celebration, Burns United Methodist Church, Oxford, MS 2012.

Gloria has been spotlighted on: Channel 9 of Tupelo, MS, Fox 13, WMC TV5, ABC 24 and 30 of Memphis, TN, WURC of Rust College and WKNA of Holly Springs, MS have spotlighted Suggs’ work. Gloria has exhibited in Ida B. Wells Museum, Marshall County Museum, Annie’s Restaurant and Gallery 56   Holly Springs, MS: Martin Luther King Civil Rights Museum, The Black Arts Gallery, D. Edge Art Gallery in Memphis, TN. Gloria has participated in the following arts and crafts festivals: DuSable Museum, Chicago, IL; The Gathering, Nashville, TN; Art Festival Corinth, MS; Pilgrimage Festival, Holly Springs, MS, May Fest Festival Senatobia, MS; The Festive Lights  Festival South Haven, MS; Art Festival Ripley, MS; Germantown Festival Germantown, TN; Meet and Great the Artist  Atlanta, GA; Pink Palace Museum Craft Festival Memphis, TN, and the Double Decker Oxford, MS. The Commercial Appeal, The South Reporter, The Busy Bee, and Tupelo Sunday Journal have written about Suggs’ work.

Suggs exhibited her work and conducted workshops at The B.J. Chain Public Library, Olive Branch, MS, La Fayette County & Oxford Public Library in Oxford, MS, and the Corinth Public Library in Corinth, MS. Gloria presented her work at the 2012 Lyceum Series at Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. 

Gloria Gipson Suggs wrote her first book, Wind-blown Memories, in 1988. Her second book, Reflections in Black and White with Shades of Red, Yellow, and Brown was written in 1998. Her book called Piece-A-Way Crossroads was written in 2013. It was redesigned in 2023. She produced her first single record called, “Steep is the Stairway to Heaven” in 1983. Suggs produced an album of eight contemporary gospel songs called “Such A Beautiful Day” on CD in 1990.Gloria was a movie extra in The Client in 1990.

Gloria is married to Franklin Suggs of Chulahoma, MS.  They have two children, Michael and Linda, a son-in-law, Horacio, and a grandson, Langston.  Gloria is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Holly Springs, MS.

“Preservation of Heritage and Cultural Pride through Art, Poetry, Songs and Stories”