CLASSMATE TRIBUTES TO GLO JO:
MARGARET (MEG) CLAYTOR WOODBURY and Glo Jo (as we knew her) and were the ONLY women of color in our class. We all recognized what a wonderful and important relationship they had. Meg writes: ”I think of Gloria and her strength of character, her strong belief system she sustained through her mother whom I also loved and respected. . . I have visited 2 seminar classes. . . dealing with the Nashville Civil Rights campaign 1959-early. 60’s as covered in David Halberstam’s The Children. Without Gloria’s leadership I am not sure I would have risked my medical school position after transferring to Meharry. (Hard to express. . .)the closeness we developed over the many years of our friendship, the real sisterhood of being pregnant at the same time and delivering babies in our senior year at Meharry and also demonstrating against the deeply embedded segregation of the south; the challenges of being black female physicians, not just in the predominantly white male environments in which we found ourselves, but at times among those of our own race; seeking the right balance between our demanding professional positions and growing families. The friendship we began at Mount Holyoke grew through the years, over continental divides, enduring despite time gaps. . .”
JANE KATZ CRIST has been a close family friend for many years. Their visits ranged from L.A., Uganda, Newton, Hamburg, even hosting a small reception after Jane’s 2nd wedding. “Gloria was always there to provide emotional support and a helping hand to me in good times and sad ones. She gave of herself unselfishly and her passing is a great loss to all of us.
ANN JONES DOLBEAR writes: “What a force she was and what vision she had for where the needs were.”
AMY HERZ JUVILER is “. . . sad that the world no longer contains the live Glo Jo with whom I shared so many laughs and insights. As long as I live, she will be here as a scholarly, independent 20 yr. old and a revolutionary Memphis sitter in.”
JOYCE BERNSTEIN KLEIN paid tribute to “such an accomplished woman.”
JUDITH (MISTY) TURINO GIDOENSE had contact with Gloria on the Alum. Assoc. Board, again at a reception for Joanne Creighton, after which they walked together back to their cars. Gloria told her all about her siblings and how each of them had been a “first African American” in whatever their fields. She, herself, was the first African American woman to be granted tenure at the Harvard Medical School.”
“She was truly one of the towering figures in our class,” writes ANNE (ANZI) ENSWORTH WHITNEY. “Her rise from humble beginnings, her medical career which included Harvard, of course her civil rights work with Meg (Margaret Claytor Woodbury) . . .” and an (MHC) trustee as well.”
Your Scribe, JOAN (SMUDGE) HEYMAN ROSEN was reminded of her warmth and smile, and her significance to MHC when staying at Willits-Hallowell during various Mini Reunions. “Her beautiful, bold picture hangs there.” Besides many outstanding humanistic and medical accomplishments, she was part of the Advisory Bd. when Hillary Clinton was exploring options to improve health care in the U.S. “David Halberstam’s book about the Civil Rights movement stares at me from my shelf.” Both she and Meg were active in the early ‘60’s and appear on many of his pages.
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