Dr. Gladys Elouise Peeples-Burks
December 29th, 1928 - February 7th, 2023
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Dr. Gladys's Obituary
Gladys Elouise Peeples-Burks, Ph.D., died on February 7, 2023 in Stevensville, MI. at the age of ninety-four (94). Dr. Burks was born in Fort Lauderdale, FL on December 29, 1928 as the first born of James and Pauline (White) Peeples. The family moved to St. Joseph in 1929 and three years later to Benton Harbor. Dr. Burks attended public schools in Benton Harbor and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1946. She married Eddie G. Burks in 1954 and to that union, one daughter, Beverly Kim Burks was born.
Dr. Burks was quite active at Second Baptist Church, where she was baptized at the age of twelve. She has been a member for eighty-two (82) years. Gladys was a member of the junior and senior choirs, and served as the church clerk in her teen years. Dr. Burks also frequently attended Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Gladys was a member of the first graduation class of Benton Harbor Junior College, now Lake Michigan College, where she was vice president of the women’s class. She received an A.A. degree in 1948. After retiring from Michigan Bell Telephone Co., she earned degrees, B.A. and M.A. from Western Michigan University. She later earned an Ed.S. and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. Burks was a strong advocate for public education and was recognized on the national level for her work in elementary education. An elementary program she developed with the late Dr. Dorothy Rich of the Home and School Institute in Washington, D.C. was described in THE NEW YORK TIMES educational section and the STARS and STRIPES overseas newspaper. During her career in education, Dr. Burks worked as Director of Tri-County Action Head Start. She also worked in the Benton Harbor Area Schools as a teacher, an elementary school principal and Director of State & Federal Programs. Upon retirement from the school system, she was elected to three terms on the Benton Harbor Area School Board and served as president of the board for four years. She was also an adjunct instructor for Michigan State and Wayne State Universities.
Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks took a leadership role in her community. In her early twenties, she was a member and secretary of the local YWCA board, member of American Association of University Women (AAUW), League of Women Voters, the Twin City Arts Council, Southwest Michigan Women’s Political Coalition, past president of Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Berrien County Extension Service Council of Michigan State University. Dr. Burks was the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Directors for Chemical Bank where she served for nineteen years. Even at the age of ninety-four, Dr. Burks was still active in a community work as a member of the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and charter member of the Benton Harbor Chapter of Charms (formerly Squaws). Dr. Burks was also on the boards of Region Four Area Agency on Aging, Berrien Community Foundation,
President & scholarship chairperson of the Berrien County Association of Retired School Personnel, devoted member of the Southwest Michigan Race Relations Council, board member of Calling All Colors and was president & vice president of the Lake Michigan College Alumni Board. Dr. Burks was also a lifetime member of the NAACP serving through the Twin City Area Branch.
Upon retirement, Dr. Burks moved to Stevensville, MI with her two sisters, Lois & Barbara. The three of them became known as the “The Ebony Girls”, after “The Golden Girls”. They would say that Barbara was the Rose of the group, Lois was Dorothy and Gladys was Sophia. There was no Blanche. Any of you who know the Golden Girls know why no one was Blanche!
Dr. Burks enjoyed traveling, reading, playing Scrabble and gardening. A lover of turtles, she has over 2500 in her collection.
Dr. Burks was preceded in death by her husband Eddie, parents James and Pauline, sisters Estelle and Lois, two brothers, James (Jimmy) and Richard. She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Kim Burks of Fort Worth, TX, her sister, Barbara Peeples of Stevensville, MI, and her brother Ronald Peeples, Sr. of Columbus, OH. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Harriet Peeples of Benton Harbor, MI; her nieces Vickie Peeples of Saginaw, MI; Lisa Peeples-Hurst (Andrew Hurst) & Audrey Peeples of Benton Harbor, MI; and her nephew Ronald Peeples, Jr. of Columbus, OH. A host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues are also left to grieve.
Dr. Gladys Elouise Peeples-Burks’ celebrated life of almost a century with only black, first black, first female black accolades, paved the way for generations behind her. Her leadership, educational contributions, dedicated community service and legacy of love define her class and character. Her life is a benediction.
A Family Hour/Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Starks Menchinger Chapel, 5650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 11:00am at Refreshing Fountains COGIC, 175 S. Euclid Ave., Benton Harbor. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following:
Scholarship fund of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Alumnae Chapter
Scholarship fund of Second Baptist Church in memory of Pauline White-Peeples
Scholarship programs of the Berrien County Association of Retired School Personnel, Berrien Community Foundation, Lake Michigan College Foundation, and/or Southwest Michigan Race Relations Council
Dr. Burks was quite active at Second Baptist Church, where she was baptized at the age of twelve. She has been a member for eighty-two (82) years. Gladys was a member of the junior and senior choirs, and served as the church clerk in her teen years. Dr. Burks also frequently attended Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Gladys was a member of the first graduation class of Benton Harbor Junior College, now Lake Michigan College, where she was vice president of the women’s class. She received an A.A. degree in 1948. After retiring from Michigan Bell Telephone Co., she earned degrees, B.A. and M.A. from Western Michigan University. She later earned an Ed.S. and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. Burks was a strong advocate for public education and was recognized on the national level for her work in elementary education. An elementary program she developed with the late Dr. Dorothy Rich of the Home and School Institute in Washington, D.C. was described in THE NEW YORK TIMES educational section and the STARS and STRIPES overseas newspaper. During her career in education, Dr. Burks worked as Director of Tri-County Action Head Start. She also worked in the Benton Harbor Area Schools as a teacher, an elementary school principal and Director of State & Federal Programs. Upon retirement from the school system, she was elected to three terms on the Benton Harbor Area School Board and served as president of the board for four years. She was also an adjunct instructor for Michigan State and Wayne State Universities.
Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks took a leadership role in her community. In her early twenties, she was a member and secretary of the local YWCA board, member of American Association of University Women (AAUW), League of Women Voters, the Twin City Arts Council, Southwest Michigan Women’s Political Coalition, past president of Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Berrien County Extension Service Council of Michigan State University. Dr. Burks was the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Directors for Chemical Bank where she served for nineteen years. Even at the age of ninety-four, Dr. Burks was still active in a community work as a member of the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and charter member of the Benton Harbor Chapter of Charms (formerly Squaws). Dr. Burks was also on the boards of Region Four Area Agency on Aging, Berrien Community Foundation,
President & scholarship chairperson of the Berrien County Association of Retired School Personnel, devoted member of the Southwest Michigan Race Relations Council, board member of Calling All Colors and was president & vice president of the Lake Michigan College Alumni Board. Dr. Burks was also a lifetime member of the NAACP serving through the Twin City Area Branch.
Upon retirement, Dr. Burks moved to Stevensville, MI with her two sisters, Lois & Barbara. The three of them became known as the “The Ebony Girls”, after “The Golden Girls”. They would say that Barbara was the Rose of the group, Lois was Dorothy and Gladys was Sophia. There was no Blanche. Any of you who know the Golden Girls know why no one was Blanche!
Dr. Burks enjoyed traveling, reading, playing Scrabble and gardening. A lover of turtles, she has over 2500 in her collection.
Dr. Burks was preceded in death by her husband Eddie, parents James and Pauline, sisters Estelle and Lois, two brothers, James (Jimmy) and Richard. She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Kim Burks of Fort Worth, TX, her sister, Barbara Peeples of Stevensville, MI, and her brother Ronald Peeples, Sr. of Columbus, OH. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Harriet Peeples of Benton Harbor, MI; her nieces Vickie Peeples of Saginaw, MI; Lisa Peeples-Hurst (Andrew Hurst) & Audrey Peeples of Benton Harbor, MI; and her nephew Ronald Peeples, Jr. of Columbus, OH. A host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues are also left to grieve.
Dr. Gladys Elouise Peeples-Burks’ celebrated life of almost a century with only black, first black, first female black accolades, paved the way for generations behind her. Her leadership, educational contributions, dedicated community service and legacy of love define her class and character. Her life is a benediction.
A Family Hour/Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Starks Menchinger Chapel, 5650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 11:00am at Refreshing Fountains COGIC, 175 S. Euclid Ave., Benton Harbor. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following:
Scholarship fund of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Alumnae Chapter
Scholarship fund of Second Baptist Church in memory of Pauline White-Peeples
Scholarship programs of the Berrien County Association of Retired School Personnel, Berrien Community Foundation, Lake Michigan College Foundation, and/or Southwest Michigan Race Relations Council
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