Note: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and should not be attributed to the staff, officers or trustees of The UPLIFT Institute.

Gladys Miles was born on October 8, 1914 in Cerro Gordo, N. C., a small, rural town    located in the southeastern part of the state. She, along with the help of her mother and aunt, raised five children (three boys and two girls). Ms. Miles completed high school during the period of segregated schools in the South.  She was noted for her extraordinary handwriting skills which were in great demand by those who had more formal education then she. She retired after doing domestic and farm work. In spite of her work, Ms. Miles’ extraordinary  humble and caring qualities enabled her to live, love, get along, and win the respect of all races, even those who practiced racism and segregation. She feels that respect for all, and being God-fearing are some of the most important parts of our existence. Her Children say that their Mother has always referred to them, her church, and the town where she was born, as the loves of her life. Those who know her say that she has never shown any signs of low self-esteem or inferiority with those whom she has worked for.  Ms. Miles’ greatest contribution has been her compassion and desire to help people less fortunate then herself, and in some cases, more fortunate then she.  After her children became  grown, she used their support to help care for those who were stricken with the heaviest degree of poverty within the rural community where she lived.  After many years of being denied the right to vote, due to racism and segregation in the south, Ms. Miles did not  become active in exercising those rights until she reached her 60’s. She was then recruited to work as an election worker at the polls on election days.  When she reached her 70’s, she was diagnosed as a diabetic and eventually in her 90’s with Alzheimer’s.  When asked how she wanted to be remembered, she said, “I am just an ordinary person who happens to be one of God’s children, who loves the Lord, and that I did all that I could do to love and treat others as I wanted to be treated”.  It is in honor of this great person, that Uplift pays tribute to her by establishing the “Gladys Miles Center on Health Research, and Public Information ” with a focus on Diabetes and Alzheimer’s