Georgia Davis Powers
Georgia Davis Powers (née Montgomery; October 19, 1923 – January 30, 2016) was an American politician who served for 21 years as a state senator in the Kentucky Senate. In 1967, she was the first person of color elected to the senate. During her term, she was "regarded as the leading advocate for blacks, women, children, the poor, and the handicapped," and was the chair of the Health and Welfare committee from 1970 to 1976 and the Labor and Industry committee from 1978 to 1988.
Georgia Davis Powers | |
|---|---|
Powers in 2010 | |
| Member of the Kentucky Senate from the 33rd district | |
| In office January 1, 1968 – January 1, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard Bonn |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Neal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Georgia Montgomery October 19, 1923 Springfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 2016 (aged 92) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Norman F. Davis
(m. 1943–1968)James L. Powers (m. 1973) |
| Children | William "Billy" Davis |
| Parent(s) | Frances Walker and Ben Gore Montgomery |
| Occupation | Politician, civil rights activist |
Powers attended the Louisville Municipal College, worked for organizations concerning civil and equal rights, and received honorary doctorates from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, among other honors. She died in 2016 of congestive heart failure.