Soror Gladys Louise Catchings was born in Georgetown, Georgia. She graduated from Freedmen's Hospital School of Nursing, Washington, DC, in 1922. She engaged in postgraduate work at The Catholic University of America and the District of Columbia Teacher's College, Washington, DC, and New York University, New York City. She worked in private duty, hospital, geriatric and school nursing. After retiring, Soror Catchings divided her time between Chicago, Illinois and her birthplace, Georgetown, Georgia. Soror Catchings died September 24, 1992.