Gertha Mae Giles, daughter, mother, sister, aunt, actress, and community activist. Born August 5, 1952, in Keatchie, Louisiana to Handy Giles and Eliza Giles-Robertson, Gertha was the fifth child of 10 siblings. Gertha was raised in the Acres Home Community and attended Wesley Elementary School and graduated from M. C. Williams High School class of 1971. While in high school she won numerous awards in speech, debate and acting under the direction of Mr. C. Lee Turner. Upon graduation Gertha attended the University of Houston majoring in Information Systems.

Her love for acting in high school lead her to participate in theatrical productions at the historic Ensemble Theater. She was best known for her portrayal as the character "Mama" in Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". She performed to sold out audience and won accolades in the local newspaper. Gertha performed in additional productions such as "For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enough" and "Christmas is Coming Uptown". Gertha is also recognized for her depiction of an enslaved woman in Mark Twain's "A True Story" at many venues in the Houston Community.

Gertha was a true community activist dedicated to defending her Acres Home community against things such as illegal dumping, limiting gas stations and general human rights. She exercised her civic duty by often attending neighborhood meetings to speak about injustice in the Acres Home Community. Gertha was a member of the Acres Home Beautification committee, Founder and member of the Acres Home Property Heirs Committee. Due to her activism, she was coined Ms. Acres Home by CDC of FTC. Her volunteerism is associated with the Ensemble Theater, the Nation of Islam, and the Acres Home Multipurpose Center. Gertha was an avid book reader. She enjoyed debates about relationships, religion, and politics at local settings.

Gertha worked as an emergency center clerk at Ben Taub Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, and part time at Chevron Gas Station.

In her later life Gertha enjoyed her family especially her son Tamba Giles and "her favorite granddaughter" Asiya Giles. Gertha loved traveling to Baltimore, Maryland to support her son in his ministering and performances throughout the east coast. She especially loved supporting Asiyah by attending her dance recitals with the Maryland Academy of Dance.

Gertha Mae Giles was preceded in  death by her father Handy Giles, bonus father John Henry Robertson, siblings Mildred Burnley and Samuel L. Collins. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved son Tamba Giles (Kendra), "favorite granddaughter" Asiya Giles, her mother Eliza Robertson, siblings Warriene Haywood (Archie), Lloyd Giles (Patricia), Nathaniel Giles (Gwen), Michael Ray Giles, Arnold Giles (Angela), Mark Giles (Sherronda), Vera Baker (Joseph); brother-in-law Herman Burnley; great uncles Leon Collins, J.T. Collins; aunts Addienne Collins-Simpson, Noon Elaine Collins-Hall; and a host of extended family and friends.