Gloria Johnson Gilmore grew up in Orange County and is a graduate of George Washington Carver Regional High School and West Virginia State University in Institute, WV. After graduation, she married and moved to Michigan where she enjoyed a 30-year distinguished leadership career in Human Resources with the U S Army Tank Automotive & Research Command.
In Michigan she was dedicated to her faith and community serving in numerous capacities at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, the Michigan State and County NAACP, Michigan Boy & Girl Scout Programs and mentoring in the Pontiac School System.
At retirement Gloria and husband Johnny returned to her childhood home at Johnson’s Grove, the place where her family has lived almost 100 years. This site is the source of her 40+ year love and study of genealogy and family history, learned from her parents, grandparents and community. Because she recognizes and knows the importance of every family’s story, she continues to share her knowledge & techniques with local churches, communities, educational institutions, organizations, and any interested soul.
She is Administrator, Choir Director and historian at Zion Hill Baptist Church at Keswick, VA; Life Member of the NAACP; past advisor of Orange County NAACP Youth Council; former secretary of Orange County Electoral Board; member of the Louisa, Fluvanna and Orange County Historical Societies; Trustee of the Woodberry Cemetery Association and a founding Director of her beloved One Shared Story, a minority based non-profit organization that teaches family research, genealogy of the African American story, maps the stories of forgotten communities and promotes the total American history. She and Johnny are the proud parents of four adult children and seven adorable grandchildren.
