Biographical Information
City of Residence: Tampa
Occupation: Attorney; Public School Teacher 1964-1965
Education: Florida A&M University, B.S., 1964; Florida A&M University College of Law, J.D., 1968
Born: February 3, 1943, Lakeland, FL
Religious Affiliation: African Methodist Episcopal
Recreational Interest: reading, traveling, walking
Legislative Service
Elected to the House in 2000, reelected subsequently
Democratic Policy Chair 2004-2006
Other Public Services
University Community Hospital Trustee 1986-present
National Labor Caucus, Executive Committee 2004
Hillsborough Head Start Community Foundation Board, Inc., Board of Directors 2002
Federal Aviation Authority Management Advisory Council 2000-2001
Florida A&M University Foundation, Board of Directors 1996-2000
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority 1991-1999
Tampa Bay Partnership, Policy Board 1993-1999
U.S. Delegation United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China 1995
Governor's Commission on African-American Affairs 1993-1994
Hillsborough County Overall Economic Development Committee 1992-1994
Tampa Economic Development Board, Board of Directors 1992-1994
U.S. Delegation World Population and Development Conference, Cairo, Egypt 1994
Clinton-Gore Administration, Justice-Civil Rights Transition Cluster, Senior Advisory Council 1993
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Board of Governors, Executive Committee, Minority Economic Development Council 1990-1993
Florida Supreme Court Racial and Ethnic Bias Commission 1990-1991
Governor's Commission on Government for the People 1991
Bay Area Legal Services, Board of Directors 1977-1986, 1990
City of Tampa General Employees Pension Fund, Board of Trustees 1988-1990
Hillsborough County Partners in Progress Committee 1989
Travelers Aid Society, Inc., Board of Directors 1980-1988
Governor's Task Force on the Black Family 1986
Helping Hand Day Nursery, Board of Directors 1978-1986
Hillsborough County Charter Review Board 1985-1986
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Committee 1984-1986
Hillsborough Community Housing Resource Board 1984-1985
Criminal Justice Planning Council of Hillsborough County, Charter Member 1974-1984
Hillsborough County School Board, Citizen Advisory Committee 1983-1984
Florida Probation & Parole Qualifications Selection Committee 1977
YWCA, Board of Directors 1976-1977
Hillsborough County Nursing Home Ombudsman Committee 1975
Tampa Urban League, Board of Directors 1975
Affiliations
American Bar Association
Florida Association of Women Lawyers
George E. Edgecomb Bar Association, Hillsborough County
Greater Tampa Urban League, Life Member
Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers
Hillsborough County Bar Association, Board of Directors
NAACP, Life Member
National Association of Bond Lawyers
The Florida Bar
Links, Inc., National Parliamentarian 1997-2000
Commissioners' Roundtable, Airports Council International, North America, Steering Committee and Vice Chair 1992-1999
Legal Steering Committee, Airports Council International, North America 1995-1999
Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida 1992-1996
Judicial Nominating Commission, 13th Judicial Circuit, Chair 1993-1994
National Coalition 100 Black Women, Inc., National Legal Counsel 1992-1993
Delta Sigma Theta Inc., National Legal Advisor 1985-1992
National Bar Association, President 1984-1985
Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, President 1974-1976
Highlights
1st Amendment Foundation, Special Recognition Award 2004
Flemming Leadership Institute Fellowship 2004
Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, Achievement Award 2004
Friend of Florida Association of Women Lawyers Award 2003
Florida Consumer Action Network, Consumer Champion Award 2002
The Florida Bar Celebration of Florida's First 150 Women Lawyers and the First 5 African-American Women Lawyers, Honoree 2000
Airport Minority Advisory Council, Leadership Award 1999
Women of Distinction-Suncoast Girl Scouts Award 1995
George E. Edgecomb Bar Association Francisco Rodriguez Award 1993
Leadership Florida 1992-1993
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers' Achievement Award 1993
Selected by the American Jewish Committee to participate in Project Interchange's African-American Leaders Seminar in Israel 1993
National Bar Association, Women Lawyers Division, Founders Achievement Award 1992
The Charmettes Inc., Eunice Thompson Service Award 1992
College Hill Resident Council, Supporting The Struggle Award 1991
Executive Woman of the Year 1990
Leadership Tampa 1988-1989
Plant City Business and Professional Women's Club Award for Dedication and Outstanding Performance 1989
Bay Area Legal Services Pro Bono Award 1985-1988
Governor's Distinguished Black Floridian Award 1987
Listed in Who's Who Among Black Americans 1985
Selected as one of America's Top 100 Black Business and Professional Women by Dollars and Sense Magazine 1985
Selected as one of America's 100 Most Influential Black Americans by Ebony Magazine 1985
Legal Assistant to Representative Joe Lang Kershaw, Florida House of Representatives 1969