Gwendolyn Nero Loper
One of Mississippi’s most celebrated social justice advocates, Mrs. Gwendolyn Nero Loper, succumbed two months after her 96th birthday on September 30, 2026. Public visitation is October 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Family & Friends Hour: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.; and Omega Omega Service: 6:00 p.m. at Collins Northside Chapel, 461 W. Northside Drive, Jackson, MS. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, 11:00 a.m., at Farish Street Baptist Church, 619 North Farish Street, Jackson, MS.
Mrs. Loper was the last surviving sibling of 15 children born to the late Malinda and Willis Nero. Born August 17, 1930, in Greenwood, MS, she attended Wesley United Methodist Church, a historical Black church where her grandfather was one of the founding trustees in 1878.
After graduating from Greenwood High School in 1946, Mrs. Loper attended Tougaloo College and graduated cum laude in 1952 with a major in Sociology. She continued her post-secondary pursuits and completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 1955 from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
She has been recognized as a pioneer in the field of Social Work in the State of Mississippi. Her contributions to the community and the state spanned many decades, as she was an advocate for social justice, mental health, and the welfare of children and families throughout her professional career.
Mrs. Loper’s long term commitment to community and state activism in her profession is evidenced by her many years of service and her many awards and recognitions. Please visit https://jacksonadvocateonline.com/mrs-gwendolyn-loper-celebrates-90th-birthday/ for a major list of accomplishments. She also held the undisputed winner title of “Jackson Advocate Best Pound Cake Contest” until she stop baking.
“I loved Gwen Loper. Her cakes were definitely a bonus but more so to have a reason to visit her,” stated Alice Thomas-Tisdale, Publisher Emerita, Jackson Advocate. “Some might say she was the icing on the cake, but I’d argue she was the oven. No matter how good the ingredients are, if you don’t bake it just right, it’s likely to be disastrous. Mrs. Loper’s adoring temperament helped countless individuals achieve a sense of belonging, including me.”
Upon graduation from Howard University, Mrs. Loper moved back to Mississippi to actively participate in the Civil Rights Movement by engaging in projects and civic organizations at the local and national levels. She received various community service and leadership awards for these activist and social action roles, including: Woman Activist Award (1980), Black Woman’s Political Action Community Service Award (1990), Christ-Centered Leadership and Service Award (1995), and the Salt and Pepper Club Community Service Award (1995). She held lifetime memberships in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Council of Negro Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and her beloved alma mater, Tougaloo College National Alumni Association. Mrs. Loper continued to be actively involved with Farish Street Baptist Church (where she was a member for over 50 yrs.), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Grand Slam Bridge Club, E.B. Topp Circle, and the Jackson Chapter of the Links, Inc.
Through her tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for all people, she defined her life’s purpose and mission as “giving, becoming, and doing”. Her unwavering love and devotion to her family, especially her grandchildren, stands as her crowning attribute and pinnacle of her achievements.
She was married to the late Mr. Melvin Loper and they nurtured three children: Rodney (Bobby) Loper, Hubert (Larry) Loper, and Gerrilyn Loper Levy; she also delighted in their eight grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
