Gladys Johnson Hildreth

Dr. Gladys Johnson Hildreth, 92, of Denton, TX and Baton Rouge, LA passed away at home peacefully on Saturday, April 15. Gladys was born in Columbia, Mississippi on October 15,1930, the daughter of Geylon and Minnie (Toney) Johnson.

Gladys devoted both her personal and professional life to family. Her faith was the foundation for it all and she could often be heard humming songs of praise and worship as she went about her day. She was seen as a paragon in her role of wife, mother, and grandmother. Her marriage to Eddie, her college sweetheart, was a deep and richly colored partnership dedicated to supporting one another, raising children, and building connections in the community. She was always available to her children and grandchildren for advice, support, and abundant care. She would espouse the importance of positive familial relationships and their impact on society and spoke of it often.

A Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) Gladys taught and conducted research on family development and human relations at major universities across the United States for over 65 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Southern University, her master’s degree at University of Wisconsin and her doctoral degree at Michigan State University. She served as Department Chair of the School of Human Ecology at Louisiana State University (Professor Emeritus), Chairperson of the Department of College of Human Environmental Science Department of Family Studies at University of Kentucky, faculty member at Texas Woman’s University and lecturer at University of North Texas while also mentoring others throughout her esteemed career.

She retired with the respect and admiration of many fellow colleagues and students and maintained those relationships until her death.

She was a devoted Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated since 1957. Another membership dear to her was that of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).

Never one to allow grass to grow under her feet, Gladys would greet each morning with fresh eyes and determination to tackle the day. In her spare time, she collected rooster figurines, was an impeccable dresser, talented cook, seamstress, gardener and was nearly impossible to beat in a game of Scrabble.

She loved learning new things as well as sharing her valuable wisdom with others and had recently begun drafting her second book. She believed that education was the answer to most problems and published her first book, Leaving No One Behind, An African American Family’s Story of Achievement Through Education at the age of ninety-one. After her marriage, children, and time in the classroom, she was most proud of that accomplishment. She valued and understood the impact people have on other’s lives and was vocal about being patient and kind, especially with children. A steel magnolia until her passing, she lived a life of grace, strength, and hope, touching numerous lives throughout her journey and creating a legacy that will live on.

Gladys is survived by her son, Dwayne Hildreth, Kathleen (Quintin) Harris and Karen (Sean) Lathan and called Grandma by Paige and Zachary Harris, Caleb and Jacob Lathan and Ashley (Sternes) and Julius Combes. Her brothers Kenneth (Carolyn) Johnson and Lloyd Johnson and a host of cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and caregivers will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her parents Geylon and Minnie Johnson, her husband of 62 years, Dr. Eddie Hildreth, Jr. her son Eddie Hildreth III; her daughter, Dr. Bertina Hildreth Combes, sisters Sonia Jefferson, Iris Johnson and Carol Washington and brother Henry Johnson.

If desired, friends may make contributions to The Drs. Eddie and Gladys Hildreth Scholarship, through the UNT Division of Advancement, 1155 Union Circle #311250, Denton, TX 76203-5017 or by calling 940-369-8200.

Arrangements handled by DeBerry’s Funeral Home of Denton and interment in the Port Hudson National Cemetery.