Marcia Ann Gillespie, trailblazing Essence and Ms. editor, dies at 82
Marcia Ann Gillespie, the pioneering magazine editor who led Essence and later Ms., has died aged 82. Essence announced her death on Saturday, 31 October.
Born on 10 July 1944 in Rockville Centre, New York, Gillespie grew up on Long Island in a working-class family. She studied American studies at Lake Forest College in Illinois, graduating in 1966, and began her publishing career as a researcher at Time-Life Books in New York City.
In 1970 she joined the newly founded Essence magazine as managing editor. A year later, at 26, she became editor-in-chief, and she led the magazine until 1980, turning it into one of the most widely read women’s magazines in the country. She also mentored Susan L. Taylor, who later succeeded her as editor-in-chief.
After leaving Essence, Gillespie joined Ms. magazine in 1980 and later became its editor-in-chief, the first Black woman to lead a mainstream American magazine. She helped set up Liberty Media for Women, which bought Ms. in 1998. She also worked on the authorised biography Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration, published in 2008, and taught media and communications at SUNY Old Westbury.
Why it matters
Gillespie took charge of two of America’s most important women’s magazines at a time when Black women were rarely seen in senior roles in publishing. Under her leadership, Essence gave Black women a magazine that spoke directly to their lives, while her work at Ms. helped carry feminist ideas to a wider audience. Her career opened doors for the generations of Black women editors and writers who followed.
What happens next
No cause of death has been made public, and no details of a funeral or memorial service have been announced yet. Tributes from colleagues and readers have begun to appear, and more are expected in the coming days.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.essence.com/culture/remembering-marcia-ann-gillespie/ (Essence, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.whatimreading.net/p/marcia-ann-gillespie-essence-magazine-dead (What I’m Reading, 31 October 2026)
