The Farm Team

Saluting Virginia’s African American Women Legislators

By The Honorable Viola Baskerville

Since 1968, the beginning of the modern political era of expanded voting rights for African Americans, fifteen of the forty Black Legislators who have served or who are currently serving in the Virginia General Assembly are women. These hardworking women represent diverse professional backgrounds from attorneys to educators to retired military as well as former locally elected officials. They have fought for legislation to assist small businesses, improve childcare, recognize equal pay for equal work, level the playing field for urban communities, promote better health outcomes for women and create competitive legislative districts among other issues. They are legislators who are also wives, mothers and grandmothers advocating tirelessly on behalf of their constituents.

Although African American women have served in both community and political arenas in Virginia throughout the 20^th Century, they did not serve in the General Assembly until 1984 with the election of educator Yvonne B. Miller of Norfolk to the Virginia House of Delegates.  Following her in 1986 to the House came respected educator Mary T. Christian, (D-Norfolk), affectionately called “Dr. C.” who served until 2003 and veteran corporate attorney Jean W. Cunningham (D-Richmond) who served until 1998 and was followed by former Richmond City Council Member, Viola O. Baskerville (D-Richmond) who served in the House until 2006 when she was named Secretary of Administration by Governor Timothy Kaine. In 2005, Delegate Baskerville became the first African American woman to run in the primary of a major party for statewide office. She was followed in the House by Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond), a corporate attorney who is often mentioned as a “Rising Star” in the House and serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Veteran educator Flora D. Crittenden (D-Newport News) served in the House from 1993 until 2003. A magnate middle school in Newport News was named in her honor.

From 2002-2003, Winsome Sears, (R-Norfolk) a former Marine served in the House as the first black Republican woman Delegate, but announced her intention not to seek reelection after two sessions of the General Assembly. She also ran unsuccessfully for the United States Congress in 2004.

In 2004, Mayme BaCote, (D-Newport News) an educator and Jeion A. Ward (D- Norfolk) a union negotiator and who currently serves as House Democratic Caucus Treasurer followed their trailblazing sisters into the Virginia House of Delegates. The next election cycle ushered in the former Mayor of the City of Petersburg and professional nurse, Rosalyn Dance (D-Petersburg) along with Roslyn C. Tyler who represents Emporia, Greenville, Sussex, Brunswick, Lunenburg, Southampton, and Franklin City.

In 2008, Charniele Herring, (D-Alexandria) an attorney and Delores L. McQuinn (D-Richmond), a former school board and city council member and who is a minister became members of the House of Delegates bringing the total number of African American women currently serving in the House of Delegates to seven. What a milestone since Yvonne Miller entered in 1984!

Virginia African American women Senators currently chair three of the eleven Senate committees. Senator Yvonne B. Miller, (D-Norfolk) is the first and longest serving African American woman elected to the Virginia General Assembly. She served from 1984-1987 in the House of Delegates and has served since 1988 in the Virginia Senate. She is currently Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Senator L. Louise Lucas, (D-Portsmouth) an educator has served in the Virginia Senate since 1992 and currently chairs the Local Government Committee of the Senate. She also ran for the United States Congress in 2001. Senator Mamie E. Locke, (D-Hampton), is a formerly elected local official having served as the mayor of Hampton. As an educator, she serves as the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education at Hampton University in addition to her legislative duties. Senator Locke serves as Chair of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee.

These fifteen African American women have made and are continuing to make their mark in the oldest longest continuously serving legislative body in the New World!!!!