Gilmore was a trailblazer as the first Black woman licensed as a funeral director in West Virginia and Kanawha County. Beyond her funeral home, she played a pivotal role in civil rights activism, leading boycotts and demonstrations through the Charleston chapter of CORE, securing victories against racial discrimination. Her community involvement extended to organizations like the Girl Scouts and the Kanawha Valley Council on Human Relations. She also served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.