Chronology of the Life of Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson born in Silver, South Carolina.

Gibson and her family relocate to New York City.

Begins tennis lessons at Harlem's Cosmopolitan Club.

Participates in her first tennis tournament, sponsored by the all-black American Tennis Association (ATA)and wins.

Moves to Wilmington, North Carolina, to work on her tennis skills with Dr. Hubert A. Eaton; enrolls in high school in NC.

Gibson wins her first of ten consecutive ATA National Championships.

For the first time in her career, she competes against white players. Gibson also enrolls at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

Plays in her first outdoor United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) tournament and enters the U.S. National Tennis Championships at Forest Hills.

Competes in the All-England Tennis Championships at Wimbledon for the first time.

Graduates from Florida A&M; moves to Jefferson City, Missouri.

Begins training and working with tennis coach Sydney Llewellyn.

Travels throughout Southeast Asia on a U.S. State Department-sponsored goodwill tennis tour.

Gibson wins the French Championships and tours the Australian tennis tournament circuit.

Wins the All-England Championships at Wimbledon and the U.S. National Tennis Championships at Forest Hills.

Wins Wimbledon and Forest Hills and then retires from amateur tennis.

Records and releases a record album, Althea Gibson Sings and appears in a film entitled, The Horse Soldiers.

Tours with the Harlem Globetrotters playing exhibition tennis.

Launches her professional golf career by joining the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

Marries Will Darben

1971

Retires from professional golf and begins a career as a professional tennis player.

1975

Takes a job as manager of the East Orange, New Jersey, Department of Recreation.

2003

September 23, 2003, Althea dies in East Orange, New Jersey