Born in Georgia and raised in North Carolina. Daughter of two college professors. Started her career at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Went on to become "locally famous" as a stage actress in Atlanta and throughout the southeast, touring her one-woman show, "From My Grandmother's Grandmother Unto Me," which was filmed for Public Broadcasting by John D. Allen. Was appointed a Cultural Ambassador for the state of Georgia by Gov. Zell Miller and performed in the 1994 and 1996 Cultural Olympiads. After performing on the last season of In the Heat of the Night (1988), Carroll O'Connor suggested she move to Los Angeles; there she met and married longtime character actor Googy Gress. They have three children and split their time between California, and North Carolina.