Marcia Ann Gillespie Dies at 82
The former Essence and Ms. magazine editor who broke barriers in American publishing has died at age 82.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in African-American
Marcia Ann Gillespie, a longtime magazine editor and longtime ally of Gloria Steinem, died at age 82. Gillespie led Essence magazine and later served as editor in chief of Ms. magazine.
Why it matters
Gillespie was the first Black woman to lead a mainstream American magazine, opening a path in a publishing industry that had largely excluded Black women from top editorial roles. Her death marks the loss of a figure whose work shaped both Black women's media and feminist publishing.
Gillespie became Essence editor at age 26 and led the magazine from 1971 to 1980, a period in which it won a National Magazine Award. In 1998 Liberty Media for Women bought Ms. magazine for about $3 million with Gillespie as president, and the cause of her death has not been reported.
The players
Marcia Ann Gillespie
Gillespie was a magazine editor who led Essence and Ms. and was the first Black woman to lead a mainstream American magazine.
Gloria Steinem
Steinem was a prominent feminist writer and activist who co-founded Ms. magazine and was Gillespie's longtime ally.
The details
Born July 10, 1944, in Rockville Centre, New York, Gillespie graduated from Lake Forest College in 1966 and joined Essence as managing editor in 1970. She stepped down as Ms. editor in 2001 and later co-wrote an authorized biography of Maya Angelou, while her longtime ally Gloria Steinem died September 2, 2026, at age 92.
Timeline
July 10, 1944: Gillespie is born in Rockville Centre, New York.
1966: Gillespie graduates from Lake Forest College.
1970: Gillespie joins Essence as managing editor.
1971 to 1980: Gillespie leads Essence.
1998: Liberty Media for Women buys Ms. magazine.
Legacy Context
Gillespie's tenure at Essence, which ran from 1971 to 1980 and earned a National Magazine Award, established a model for Black women's magazine publishing in the United States. Her later leadership of Ms. made her the first Black woman to head a mainstream American magazine.
Readers who follow Essence and Ms. magazines may find Gillespie's career a reference point for the publications' history. The stub does not describe any changes to how the magazines are published or accessed.
The takeaway
Gillespie's career shows how Black women editors built influence in mainstream American magazines, often against limited access to top roles. Her work at Essence and Ms. remains a reference point for readers interested in the history of both publications.
Further reading
Explore more African-American culture coverage to see how Black women have shaped American publishing.
