Gladys Smith Scott Griffin was born to Julia Ferrell and Arthur Smith on September 11, 1908, in the city of Macon, GA. Gladys attended public and catholic schools until the eighth grade. She then went to a private school Ballard Normal, where she graduated with honors in May 1925. Her classmates voted her the best all around student. In June 1925, she relocated to Detroit.

In September of 1925, she enrolled in the City College of Detroit, now known as Wayne State University. She graduated with an A.B. degree and later obtained graduate credit sin social work and public administration.

Mrs. Griffin was a star tennis, basketball and volleyball player on her high school team at Ballard Normal and on City College teams. She was a self-taught tennis player and won two tournaments at Wayne State University. She also won a city tournament in 1929 designating her as the Detroit representative to the Black Tennis Nationals Tournament. She was unable to attend due to unusual circumstances that prevented women from traveling without escort.

When Gladys entered Wayne State in 1925, the Women’s athletic program was just beginning. Gladys and one other student were the first women to earn a school letter and leather jacket under “Coach Holmes” who was known nationally.

Gladys worked for Lane Bryant clothing store, the Detroit Athletic Club and she volunteered as a tennis instructor at the YWCA. She spent a summer working for the City of Detroit as a play leader on a playground at McGraw and Milford Avenues.

In the Fall of 1930, in the midst of the Great Depression, she was hired as a social worker for the City of Detroit Welfare Department in Family, Children’s and Court Services. Later, she transferred to the psychiatric division. She retired from the City of Detroit in July 1971. Upon her retirement, Gladys enjoyed actively taking part in Bridge groups and traveling with friends around the globe. At Plymouth Church, she has served with the Easter Tea, Ebony Fashion Show, and the Nominating Committee and as the President and Treasurer of the Go-Getters. She has faithful served as a member of the AKA Sorority, Inc. for 78 years.

Mrs. Griffin is honored by the Go-Getters Circle

Gladys was married to a native Detroiter, the late George Robert Scott (Bob) on April 11, 1936 at Plymouth Church by Rev. Horace A. White, his first marriage ceremony. Three children were born to Gladys and Bob: Carolyn, Helen, and Julie. Helen died in infancy. In February 1982 she married Thomas Griffin who predeceased her.

Gladys, now blessed at 101 years, is enjoying her daughters, Carolyn Stevens and Julie Carter; and her granddaughters, Karen Stevens-Pierce and husband Anthony, Cheryl Stevens, and Robin Carter-Stoecker and husband Douglas. She is the proud great-grandmother of Lindsay, Allison, and Nicole Pierce. She enjoys her winters in Las Vegas, NV, her summers at her cottage on Lake Idlewild, MI and her home in Detroit, where she has fun playing the game she loves—Bridge!