Gemma Greene Waldron

Gemma Greene Waldron was born in New York on October 1, 1956, and moved early in her life to the Los Angeles area, where she attended school and graduated from Fairfax High. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Southern California, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and went on to complete her graduate work at Boston University. She worked in California before being admitted to the bar in both Washington State and Nevada.

Gemma moved to Reno in 1990 and worked at the Public Utilities Commission for several years before spending many years as a Deputy District Attorney for Washoe County. After retiring from the county, she opened her own practice and for several years assisted low-income clients, continuing until health issues required her to close her office. Well-known for her wit, humor, and sense of justice, she shared her skills, knowledge, and compassion throughout Northern Nevada.

Beyond her legal career, Gemma was one of the founding members of the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society and served as its president from 1996 to 1998. She provided both direct support and behind-the-scenes work to her community, and was remembered as a tireless worker who touched many lives. She passed away peacefully in Reno, Nevada, on June 8, 2014.