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Gwen B. Giles (May 14, 1932-March 26, 1986) was a democrat in the Missouri State Senate from 1977-1981 and the first African American woman in the State Senate. During her two terms and after her resignation, Giles acted as an active civil rights proponent in the greater St. Louis area.

Life
Gwen Burdette Giles was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Dennis Wood and Irene Burdette in 1932, they would move to St. Louis Missouri three years later in 1935. In St. Louis she attended St. Liguorgi high school and would go on to attend college at St. Louis University then Washington University in St. Louis. She wouild later meet her first husband John W. Holmes Jr. with whom she would have two children.