Glenda Briggs

Glenda Lane Briggs, 76, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Bowie Springs Assisted Living Facility in Bowie, Maryland. An esteemed speech pathologist and educator, Glenda was born on December 19, 1949, in Cairo, Illinois, to the union of the late Leondas “Lee” Lane, Sr. and the late Millie Graham Lane.

Glenda grew up and lived in the Village of Wilson City, Missouri. She was raised during the twilight of the Jim Crow era with the love and support of her parents and an extended family, which included her dear mother, father, sister, brother, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

From a young age, she understood hard work and family responsibility, working alongside her family chopping, picking, and pulling cotton and beans for very little pay, as well as bailing and hauling hay. She often spoke about how, every October, the Booker T. Washington Elementary School she attended would close so that she and her classmates could help their families with the harvest. These experiences shaped Glenda’s strength, resilience, and perseverance, reflecting not only what she endured, but what she and her family survived.

Glenda always maintained a positive outlook on life and her future. She knew from a very young age that pursuing higher education was the pathway to a better life as an adult. She wanted her children and grandchildren to have a better life than she did, just as her parents wanted for her and her siblings.

Glenda’s courage showed early in her life when, after the 8th grade, she and her classmates became part of the first class of Black students given the choice to attend the segregated all Black Lincoln High School or integrate Charleston High School. During a time when school integration was still met with hostility across the United States, Glenda chose to attend Charleston High School. She faced harassment, cruelty, and resistance with bravery, patience, and determination. Her decision was not only about her own education. It was about opening a pathway for the generations that would come after her, including her children and her grandchildren.

Glenda met the love of her life, Larry Briggs, and the two later became high school sweethearts. They graduated from Charleston High School in 1967 and went on to attend Southeast Missouri State University, SEMO, where they both graduated in 1971. While at SEMO, Glenda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology, sang in talent shows, and was a member of SNAC, the SEMO Negroes Activity Council, which later became ABC, the Association of Black Collegians. She later received her Master of Arts in Education from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Glenda and Larry married on December 24, 1972, and from their union came two children, Laryssa and Lerone. Together, they shared a life filled with love and devotion for 47 years.

Glenda began her teaching career in 1972 in Bernie, Missouri, at a small Kindergarten through 12th grade school. She later served as a Special Educator in the DeSoto Public School District and the Festus Public School District from 1973 to 1989. In 1989, Glenda and her family moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, where she continued her work in education as a Speech Language Pathologist at West Elementary and as a Learning Disabilities Teacher at Southwest Elementary and Belair Elementary. She retired from West Elementary School in the Jefferson City Public School District in 2004, completing 32 years in education. Her career reflected her dedication, skill, and lasting impact as an effective educator.

Glenda was a steadfast and devoted member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for her entire life. As a child, she was a member of Sanders Chapel AME Church in Wyatt, Missouri. She later became a faithful member of Ward Chapel AME Church in Festus, Missouri, where she proudly served as a member of the choir. During her time in Jefferson City, Missouri, Glenda was an active member of Quinn Chapel AME Church, where she devoutly served in many capacities, including Steward, Steward Pro Tem, Choir Secretary, Delegate to the Annual Conference for multiple years, member of the Women’s Missionary Society, and member of the Stewardship and Finance Committee. She was deeply involved in the life of the church, often hosting choir fellowships in her home, and she faithfully attended Bible study.

Glenda adored her children, and her grandchildren and great-grandchild meant everything to her. She spent time with them, shared her wisdom, and consistently supported their thoughts and dreams. Many will remember her endearing sayings, including “I love you more than a hog loves slop,” and “God has a plan.” Glenda had a special love for apples, which she cherished as a meaningful symbol of education. An avid crafter and reader, she also enjoyed shopping at Dollar Tree locations wherever she traveled. In her later years, she often worked on crossword puzzles and sudoku, saying they helped “keep my mind going.”

After retirement, Glenda remained committed to her family, friends, and community. Just as Larry had cared for their first grandchild, Glenda dedicated her first year of retirement to caring for their second grandchild. She consistently stressed the importance of higher education, the very dream she pursued in order to create a better life for herself and her family. She freely shared her life experiences and often spoke about the importance of self-confidence, patience, and thinking ahead. Her message was consistent: never doubt yourself; never let anyone tell you what you cannot do; stay focused and things will work out; keep your grade point average as high as possible; and go to college so you can discover what you truly want to do. She always encouraged others to believe they could do the impossible.

Glenda was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her mother, Millie Graham Lane; her father, Leondas Lane, Sr.; her sister, Bonnie Heard; her brother, Leondas Lane, Jr.; her sisters-in-love, Bertha Kelly, Maxcine Hawthorne, and Earline Hudson; and her brother-in-love, Daniel Briggs, Sr. She leaves to cherish her loving memory her daughter, Laryssa (Alvin) Creswell; her son, Lerone (Aimee) Briggs; her grandchildren, Isaiah Briggs, Xavier Briggs, Akil Creswell, Lanee Briggs, and Laila Creswell; her great-granddaughter, Ava Briggs; her sisters and brothers-in-love, Preston Heard, Sr., Ollie Lane, Tommy Briggs, Sherdell “Dell” (Debbie) Briggs, and Shirley (Robert) Dilworth; and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues, and students.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Quinn Chapel AME Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. The funeral service will be held thereafter at 1:00 p.m. On Saturday, July 11, 2026, a visitation will take place at Williams Funeral Home in Charleston, Missouri from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Interment will take place thereafter at Oak Grove Cemetery in Charleston, Missouri.