First Lady Gladys Emerson is the wife of Rev. Ralph W. Emerson, Senior Pastor of the Rising Star Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. She has 2 children Ralph III and Deidra and grandson, Tavion, an active 7^th grader. Sis. Emerson serves as director for Women’s Ministry, participates in the Music Ministry, teaches Sunday School and assists wherever needs arise.  

• Veteran educator, having taught business education courses at the high school level in Illinois and Texas.  She has been employed as an administrator of the Tarrant County College District for more than 17 years and is currently the Director of Workforce Services. 

• A graduate of Chicago State University and California State University, Dominguez Hills, she is a doctoral candidate in secondary and higher education at Texas A & M University, Commerce. 

• Shares her faith experiences, speaking to women’s ministry groups and conferences as kingdom-building opportunities avail themselves.  She stands on the promises of God and her favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.”

• Serves on numerous boards and committees that support education and economic development initiatives in Tarrant County.