On this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-at-Large Marshall Ramsey sits down with former Miss Mississippi and artist Glenda Grubbs. Born and raised in Richton, Glenda got her undergraduate and master’s degrees in music from the University of Southern Mississippi.

After winning Miss Mississippi in 1972, Glenda married Gary Grubbs and moved to Los Angeles where they lived for 25 years. Gary became a prolific character actor, starring in numerous television and movie roles (including a brief cameo in this video as he operates the camera). Glenda taught elementary music education until one day, with the encouragement of Gary, she picked up the paint brush and palate.

Glenda and Gary moved back to Hattiesburg, where her artwork is gaining an audience and he continues to act and write. This is a conversation for anyone who has dreams and wonders the path to take to achieve them. Glenda also tells several entertaining stories from her time as Miss Mississippi and from Gary’s career. 

To see her artwork, click here.


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Marshall Ramsey, a nationally recognized editorial cartoonist, shares his cartoons and travels the state as Mississippi Today’s Editor-At-Large. He’s also host of a weekly statewide radio program and a television program on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and is the author of several books. Marshall is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and a 2019 recipient of the University of Tennessee Alumni Professional Achievement Award.