Gloria Jean Bell Tippins
1931-2013
Spouse
Robert Earl “Bob” Tippins
1917-2002
Children
Beatrice Tippins Jackson
Alberta Jean Tippins Santos
Gloria Jean (Bell) Tippins was born on July 27, 1931, in Milton, Florida to Theodore Bell and Willie Taylor (Davis) Bell. Her parents moved from Milton, Florida to Chipley, FL where she attended and graduated from the segregated African American T. J. Roulhac School that was founded in 1938. It was for a short time called Washington County Colored School. She and her parents were active members of Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church.
Born in Lyons, Toombs, Georgia, USA on 22 Feb 1917 to Dinksey Perley Rouse and Alberta Tippins. Robert Earl Tippins married Gloria Jean Bell. He passed away on 10 Nov 2002 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
Gloria and friend Mrs. Mary E. Burnette with some other community leaders founded The Okaloosa County Head Start Program across the street from her home on Washington Avenue (McGriff Street NE). After approved federal funding Gloria, Mary and other concerned parents started out with a small program in 1971.
She directed and supervised three programs throughout Okaloosa County; (Ft Walton, Crestview, and Baker) at the same time. After 26 years of service she retired as the program’s director in 1997.
Gloria Jean (Bell) Tippins went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 25, 2013 in the Emerald Coast Nursing Center. Interment next to her loving mother Willie Mae (Taylor) Bell Northside Cemetery, Chipley, Florida.