First African-American female to receive a doctorate from Florida State
University's School of Theater.
Taught for 20 years at Jackson State University in Jackson,
Mississippi.
Has been a Professor and the Director of Theater at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, USA for 20 years. Since May of 2010 she has been serving as the Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Alabama State University .
While on In the Heat of the Night (1988) underwent 3 1/2 hours of age makeup each day to
transform the youthful actress into the elderly "Aunt Etta."
Lifetime member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
Based her character (Principal Rivers) on the Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) episode "Rise to
the Occasion" on her days as a teaching assistant at Lanier High School
in Jackson, Mississippi.
Has received numerous keys to cities across the U.S.
Her two sons hold degrees: one son has a degree in finance and one has degrees in theatre and directing. Her daughter and adopted
goddaughter are speech pathologists.
In 1995, she was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of
Fame.
She held the first McKnight Doctoral Fellow in Theater Arts at the same time as she held a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Lifetime member of the NAACP.
Lifetime member of the Order of the Golden Circle.