Who Was Myrna Colley-Lee? The Touching Story of a Trailblazing Costume Designer

Admin September 12, 2026

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Myrna Colley-Lee is far more than a name linked to Hollywood. As a pioneering costume designer in the Black Theatre Movement, philanthropist, and arts advocate, Myrna Colley-Lee has shaped stages and communities for decades. People search for Myrna Colley-Lee because her quiet creativity and resilience offer a powerful human story of artistry, family, and quiet influence. From her North Carolina roots to her work across more than 50 theaters, the life of Myrna Colley-Lee continues to inspire curiosity and admiration.

Background and Birth Details of Myrna Colley-Lee

Myrna Colley-Lee was born in 1941 in Hamlet, North Carolina. She arrived at home with a local doctor in attendance rather than in a hospital. Her early years involved frequent moves tied to her father’s work and educational opportunities on Black college campuses.

The family lived in Atlanta, then Daytona Beach, Florida, where she began school at Bethune-Cookman College, and later Prairie View, Texas. After high school graduation in 1957, they spent time in Liberia, West Africa, connected to a cooperative education program. These experiences exposed her to diverse cultures and sparked an early interest in art and design. She later earned a BFA in Art Education from the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina (now UNCG) and an MFA in Scenic and Costume Design from Temple University.

The Meaning and Significance of the Name Myrna Colley-Lee

The name Myrna Colley-Lee carries personal and professional weight. “Colley-Lee” reflects her family heritage, combining elements from her parents’ names. She has spoken of creating “Glad Rags” as her design identity—an old phrase for festive or best clothes that captured her love of costume and character.

This professional name became tied to her company and collections of vintage clothing and designs. It symbolizes both heritage and the joyful, transformative power of clothing on stage. For audiences and researchers, Myrna Colley-Lee represents continuity between personal roots and a public career dedicated to authentic storytelling through fabric and form.

Family Members of Myrna Colley-Lee

Myrna Colley-Lee comes from a close-knit family shaped by education, creativity, and mobility. Key family details include:

Parents: Val Marie Colley Lee (homemaker who sewed and styled hair) and Alvis Augustus Lee
Siblings: The first of five daughters
Early marriage: To a jazz musician while living in New York
Later marriage: To actor Morgan Freeman (1984–2010)
Children: No biological children with Freeman; the couple adopted and helped raise Freeman’s step-granddaughter from his first marriage

Her upbringing emphasized creativity—her father involved her in large outdoor Christmas card projects, while her mother made clothes and cared for the household of girls. These influences quietly shaped her path into design.

Public Reaction to Myrna Colley-Lee’s Life and Work

Public attention often centers on her marriage to Morgan Freeman, yet the deeper response celebrates her independent achievements. Theater communities praise her as one of the foremost costume designers of the Black Theatre Movement that flourished from the late 1960s onward. She has designed for more than 70 productions, including works by August Wilson, and contributed to film and television.

In 2022 she received the Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in Costume Design. Institutions such as Mississippi State University house permanent collections of her work and Glad Rags materials, making them available for study and rental. Coverage tends to be respectful and focused on her artistry and philanthropy rather than celebrity drama. Her quiet professionalism has earned lasting regard in regional theater and arts advocacy circles.

The Emotional and Human Angle of Myrna Colley-Lee’s Journey

Behind the credits lies a story of persistence and quiet reinvention. Myrna Colley-Lee navigated early marriage, a move to New York, social work, and graduate study later in life. She participated in the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins and later built a career when opportunities for Black women designers were limited.

Her marriage to Freeman brought both partnership and public scrutiny; the relationship ended after years of separation, finalized in 2010. Through it all she continued designing, collecting, teaching, and serving on arts boards in Mississippi, where she has long resided in Charleston. The human core of her story is the steady choice to create beauty and opportunity for others—through costumes that help actors inhabit characters and through foundations that support writers and community arts. That quiet dedication resonates more deeply than any headline.

Why People Search for Myrna Colley-Lee

Curiosity about Myrna Colley-Lee often begins with her connection to Morgan Freeman, yet searches quickly expand to her own accomplishments. People want to understand the woman behind the designs, her role in Black theater history, the meaning of her collections, and how she balanced personal life with a demanding creative career. Her story appeals to those interested in theater history, women in the arts, Southern cultural figures, and authentic narratives of resilience. In an age of celebrity focus, her example of sustained craft and community service stands out.

FAQ: People Also Ask About Myrna Colley-Lee

Who is Myrna Colley-Lee?

Myrna Colley-Lee is an acclaimed American costume designer, arts advocate, and philanthropist known for her pioneering work in the Black Theatre Movement and her marriage to actor Morgan Freeman from 1984 to 2010.

When was Myrna Colley-Lee born?

She was born in 1941 in Hamlet, North Carolina.

Was Myrna Colley-Lee married to Morgan Freeman?

Yes. They married on June 16, 1984, separated around 2007, and divorced in 2010. They raised Freeman’s step-granddaughter together but had no biological children.

What is Myrna Colley-Lee known for professionally?

She is known for designing costumes for more than 70 theater productions and films, contributing to the Black Theatre Movement, receiving the 2022 Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in Costume Design, and founding initiatives such as Glad Rags and the SonEdna Foundation.

Where does Myrna Colley-Lee live and what is she doing now?

She has long resided in Charleston, Mississippi, remaining active in arts advocacy, design, and community work. Collections of her costumes and designs are preserved at Mississippi State University.

Conclusion

Myrna Colley-Lee’s life reminds us that true influence often grows quietly. From a childhood of moves and creative family projects to decades of shaping characters on stage and supporting the arts in Mississippi, she has built a legacy of craft, care, and cultural contribution. Her story invites us to look beyond famous names and celebrate the designers, advocates, and makers who give theater its soul. In every carefully chosen fabric and every community effort, Myrna Colley-Lee continues to leave an elegant, enduring mark.