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The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History
African ancestry Politicians in Tennessee


  Odell Carl Barry (b. 1941) — also known as Odell C. Barry — of Northglenn, Adams County, Colo.; Westminster, Adams County, Colo. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., October 10, 1941. Democrat. Professional football player for the Denver Broncos in 1964-65; real estate agent; mayor of Northglenn, Colo., 1980-82; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1980, 1996, 2008; member of Democratic National Committee from Colorado, 1989-93. African ancestry. Member, Rotary. Still living as of 2008.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Mary Frances Berry (b. 1938) — Born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., February 17, 1938. Lawyer; writer; university professor; member, U.S. Civil Rights Commission, 1978-2004; chair, U.S. Civil Rights Commission, 1993-99; arrested during an anti-apartheid sit-in at the South African Embassy in Washington, 1984. Female. African ancestry. Still living as of 2004.
  See also Wikipedia article — Internet Movie Database profile
  Horace Julian Bond (b. 1940) — also known as Julian Bond — of Georgia. Born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., 1940. Democrat. Member of Georgia state house of representatives, 1965-74; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1968; speaker, 1984; member of Georgia state senate, 1974-87; candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Georgia, 1986. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons. A leader of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Still living as of 1998.
  Critical books about Julian Bond: Bernard Goldberg, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37)
  Robert Bowens (b. 1922) — of Pontiac, Oakland County, Mich. Born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., March 21, 1922. Son of Robert Bowens, Sr. and Hattie (Hood) Bowens. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; barber; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Oakland County 2nd District, 1962; appointed 1962. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons. Still living as of 1962.
  Relatives: Married to Nellie J. Cooley.
  Ulysses W. Boykin (1914-1987) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., October 17, 1914. Republican. Candidate in primary for Michigan state house of representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1952; alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1964; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1980. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, Elks; Freemasons. Died in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., September 26, 1987 (age 72 years, 344 days). Burial location unknown.
  Joseph A. Brown (1903-1963) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., February 10, 1903. Democrat. Lawyer; member of Michigan state senate 2nd District, 1947-48; defeated in primary, 1948; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1948. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Elks. Died in 1963 (age about 60 years). Burial location unknown.
  Bristoe Bryant (1906-1986) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Huntingdon, Carroll County, Tenn., February 27, 1906. Democrat. Member of Michigan state senate 2nd District, 1951-52; candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 16th District, 1958. African Methodist Episcopal. African ancestry. Member, Elks; Freemasons; Sphinx. Died in 1986 (age about 80 years). Burial location unknown.
  Robert R. Church — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1900, 1912, 1916, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1940. African ancestry. One of the founders, in 1916, of the Lincoln League, an African-American political organization in western Tennessee. Burial location unknown.
  William L. Fitzgerald (b. 1872) — of Baltimore, Md. Born in Jonesborough, Washington County, Tenn., January 14, 1872. Son of Joseph M. Fitzgerald and Mary A. (Ford) Fitzgerald. Republican. Lawyer; delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1924. African Methodist Episcopal. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows; Elks; Alpha Phi Alpha. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, November 26, 1913, to Lucille Wilson.
  Harold Eugene Ford (b. 1945) — also known as Harold E. Ford — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., May 20, 1945. Democrat. Mortician; member of Tennessee state house of representatives, 1971-74; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1972, 1996; U.S. Representative from Tennessee, 1975-97 (8th District 1975-83, 9th District 1983-97). African ancestry. Member, Alpha Phi Alpha. Still living as of 2009.
  Relatives: Father of Harold Eugene Ford, Jr..
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — votes in Congress from the Washington Post — NNDB dossier
  Harold Eugene Ford, Jr. (b. 1970) — also known as Harold E. Ford, Jr. — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., May 11, 1970. Son of Harold Eugene Ford. Democrat. Lawyer; U.S. Representative from Tennessee 9th District, 1997-; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 2000, 2004. Baptist. African ancestry. Still living as of 2009.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — votes in Congress from the Washington Post — NNDB dossier
  Thomas Oscar Fuller, Sr. (1867-1942) — of North Carolina. Born in Franklinton, Franklin County, N.C., October 25, 1867. Member of North Carolina state senate. African ancestry. T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis is named for him. Died in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., June 21, 1942 (age 74 years, 239 days). Interment at New Park Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn.
  William Henry Hastie (1904-1976) — also known as William H. Hastie — of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., November 17, 1904. Son of William Henry Hastie and Roberta (Child) Hastie. Lawyer; law professor; U.S. District Judge for Virgin Islands, 1937-39; dean, Howard University law school, 1939-46; Governor of U.S. Virgin Islands, 1946-49; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, 1949-71; took senior status 1971. African ancestry. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Omega Psi Phi; Freemasons; American Civil Liberties Union; Americans for Democratic Action. Received Spingarn Medal in 1943. Died, at Suburban General Hospital, East Norriton, Montgomery County, Pa., April 14, 1976 (age 71 years, 149 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, December 25, 1943, to Beryl Lockhart.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Willie W. Herenton — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Democrat. Mayor of Memphis, Tenn., 1992-; Presidential Elector for Tennessee, 1992; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1996, 2000. African ancestry. Still living as of 2003.
  Books about W. W. Herenton: Marcus D. Pohlmann, Racial Politics at the Crossroads : Memphis Elects W. W. Herenton
  Benjamin Lawson Hooks (b. 1925) — also known as Benjamin L. Hooks — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., 1925. Democrat. Lawyer; pastor; state court judge in Tennessee, 1965; member, Federal Communications Commission, 1972-77; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1996, 2000; speaker, 1988; Presidential Elector for Tennessee, 1996. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons. Civil rights leader; friend and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1986. Still living as of 2000.
  William Lloyd Imes (1889-1986) — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., December 29, 1889. Son of Benjamin A. Imes and Elizabeth (Wallace) Imes. Minister; Dry candidate for delegate to New York convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933; president, Knoxville College, 1943-47. Presbyterian. African ancestry. Died in 1986 (age about 96 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, September 9, 1915, to Grace Virginia Frank.
  Oscar Mason — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1988. African ancestry. Still living as of 1988.
  Samuel A. McElwee — of Tennessee. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1884, 1888. African ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  James Carroll Napier (1845-1940) — of Tennessee. Born near Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., June 9, 1845. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1884; candidate for U.S. Representative from Tennessee 5th District, 1898. African ancestry. Founder of Nashville One-Cent Savings Bank; Register of the U.S. Treasury, 1911-13. Died in Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., April 21, 1940 (age 94 years, 317 days). Interment at Greenwood Cemetery, Nashville, Tenn.
  See also NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Isham F. Norris — of Tennessee. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1888. African ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  Major Robert Odell Owens (b. 1936) — also known as Major R. Owens — of Brooklyn, Kings County, N.Y. Born in Collierville, Shelby County, Tenn., June 28, 1936. Democrat. Member of New York state senate 17th District, 1975-82; delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004; U.S. Representative from New York, 1983-2003 (12th District 1983-93, 11th District 1993-2003). Baptist. African ancestry. Still living as of 2009.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — votes in Congress from the Washington Post — NNDB dossier
  James H. Robinson (born c.1907) — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., about 1907. Liberal. Minister; candidate for borough president of Manhattan, New York, 1953. Presbyterian. African ancestry. Presumed deceased. Burial location unknown.
  Books by James H. Robinson: Road Without Turning : The Story of Reverend James H. Robinson (1950)
  Richard Robinson — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1988. African ancestry. Still living as of 1988.
  Carl Thomas Rowan (1925-2000) — also known as Carl T. Rowan — of Washington, D.C. Born in Ravenscroft, White County, Tenn., August 11, 1925. Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; U.S. Ambassador to Finland, 1963-64. African ancestry. Member, Americans for Democratic Action. Widely syndicated newspaper columnist, author, biographer, television and radio commentator, founder of the Project Excellence scholarship program. In 1988, he shot and wounded an intruder in his backyard in Washington, D.C.; he was arrested, charged with a weapons violation, and tried; the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and a mistrial was declared. Died, of heart and kidney ailments and diabetes, at the Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C., September 23, 2000 (age 75 years, 43 days). Burial location unknown.
  See also NNDB dossier
  John N. Ruffin — of Tennessee. U.S. Consul in Asuncion, 1897-1907. African ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  Fred J. Smith (b. 1899) — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tenn., July 4, 1899. Member of Illinois state house of representatives, 1943. Catholic. African ancestry. Burial location unknown.
  Otis M. Smith (1922-1994) — of Flint, Genesee County, Mich. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., February 20, 1922. Democrat. Lawyer; Michigan state auditor general, 1959-61; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1960; justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1961-66; appointed 1961; defeated, 1966; first black member of the Michigan Supreme Court; member of University of Michigan board of regents, 1967-71; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1968; vice-president and general counsel of General Motors. African ancestry. Member, Urban League; Kiwanis. Died, of prostate cancer, in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., June 29, 1994 (age 72 years, 129 days). Burial location unknown.
  Books by Otis M. Smith: Looking Beyond Race : The Life of Otis Milton Smith (2000)
  Lynn Curtis Swann (b. 1952) — also known as Lynn Swann — of Sewickley Heights, Allegheny County, Pa. Born in Alcoa, Blount County, Tenn., March 7, 1952. Pro football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974-82; member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, 2006. African ancestry. Still living as of 2009.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Avon N. Williams, Jr. (1921-1994) — of Tennessee. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., December 22, 1921. Member of Tennessee state senate, 1968-90. African ancestry. Died, of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), at Meharry-Hubbard Hospital, Nashville, Davidson County, Tenn., August 29, 1994 (age 72 years, 250 days). Burial location unknown.
  Mamon Wright — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1988; Presidential Elector for Tennessee, 2000. African ancestry. Still living as of 2000.
  William James Yerby (1867-1950) — also known as William J. Yerby — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Born in Oldtown, Phillips County, Ark., September 22, 1867. Son of Robert Milton Yerby and Clementine Yerby. Physician; U.S. Consul in Sierra Leone, 1906-15; Dakar, 1915-25; La Rochelle, 1925-26; Oporto, 1926-30; Nantes, 1930-32. Baptist. African ancestry. Died in Chicago, Cook County, Ill., 1950 (age about 82 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married to Cecilia Carolyn Kennedy (1880-1953).

 

 


 
   
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