Avel Gordly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Avel Gordly
Undated portrait of Gordly by Richard E. Brown
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 23rd district
In office 1997–2009
Preceded by	Ron Cease
Succeeded by	Jackie Dingfelder
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office 1991–1996
Preceded by	Ron Cease
Succeeded by	Jo Ann Bowman
Personal details
Born	(1947-02-13)February 13, 1947 Portland, Oregon
Died	February 16, 2026(2026-02-16) (aged 79) Portland, Oregon
Political party	Independent (since 2006)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 2006)
Residence	Portland, Oregon
Alma mater	Portland State University
Occupation	Activist, community organizer, educator

Gordly in 2011

Avel Louise Gordly (February 13, 1947 – February 16, 2026) was an important activist, community leader, and former politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 1996, she made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate. She served in the Senate from 1997 to 2009, working hard for her community.

Avel Gordly: A Champion for Oregon

Early Life and Influences

Growing Up in Portland

Avel Louise Gordly was born on February 13, 1947, in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Fay Lee Gordly, worked for the railroad and as an auxiliary police officer. Her mother, Beatrice Bernice Coleman Gordly, was a homemaker and worked part-time.

Avel grew up in a diverse, working-class neighborhood in Northeast Portland. She lived with her older brother, Tyrone, and younger sister, Fayetta. Her family and community taught her strong values.

Her maternal grandmother, Alberta Louise Randolph, was a respected community leader. She helped start the Oregon Association of Colored Women's Clubs. Her paternal grandmother, Lessie Gordly, worked as a domestic laborer and in shipyards during World War II. Both grandmothers greatly influenced Avel's early life.

Education and Early Career

Gordly attended Girls Polytechnic High School. She was one of only a few Black students there. She pushed to take academic and business classes, not just vocational ones.

At age sixteen, on September 22, 1963, Gordly joined a civil rights march in Portland. This march was a response to a church bombing in Alabama. This event helped her understand the importance of social justice.

After high school, Gordly worked for a phone company for five years. She then enrolled at Portland State University. There, she studied the Administration of Justice.

She explored African American literature in the new Black Studies department. In 1970, she traveled to Nigeria with Operation Crossroads Africa. This experience was very meaningful to her.

Gordly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. She was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. After graduating, she worked as a counselor, helping women in a work release program.

She was raised in the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church community. She was active in youth groups and community service from a young age. The church helped her develop values of leadership and public service. Faith remained important throughout her life.

Making a Difference in Politics

Serving in the Legislature

Avel Gordly began her political career in 1991. She was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives. She was later elected and served three terms, representing parts of Portland.

In 1996, she was elected to the Oregon State Senate. This made her the first African-American woman to serve in that chamber. She served as a Senator from 1997 to 2009.

She was originally a member of the Democratic Party. In 2006, she changed her party affiliation to independent. She chose not to seek re-election in 2008.

Key Achievements and Laws

During her time as a lawmaker, Gordly focused on important issues. She championed social justice, civil rights, and education reform. She also worked to improve mental health services.

She led trade missions to South Africa and Zambia. She also participated in a mission to South Korea. These trips helped build connections with other countries.

As a senator, she co-chaired Governor John Kitzhaber's Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Health. This group worked to improve health equity for all people.

In 2001, Gordly sponsored a resolution that officially recognized Juneteenth in Oregon. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

In 2002, she was a key supporter of two important ballot measures. One measure removed old, unfair language from the Oregon Constitution. The other raised Oregon's minimum wage and set up annual increases.

In 2005, Gordly sponsored the Expanded Options Bill. This bill gives Oregon high school students chances to take college-level courses. It helps them further their education.

In 2007, she sponsored a bill that created Oregon’s Environmental Justice Task Force. This council advises the Governor on fair environmental issues.

Lasting Impact on the Community

In 2008, while Gordly was still a senator, Oregon Health & Science University opened a special center. It was named the Avel Gordly Center for Healing. This center provides mental health services, especially for the Black community.

Her childhood home on North Williams Avenue now houses the Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement. This organization works to preserve the history of Oregon's Black leaders. It also helps develop new Black leaders in the area.

Personal Journey and Legacy

Family and Public Life

Avel Gordly had one son, Tyrone Wayne Waters, born in 1966. Tyrone is a Navy veteran and works as a mental health advocate. Gordly spoke openly about balancing her roles as a mother and a public figure.

She passed away on February 16, 2026, at the age of 79.

Continuing Her Work and Honors

After retiring from the legislature, Gordly joined the faculty at Portland State University. She became an associate professor in the Black studies Department.

She co-authored her memoir, Remembering the Power of Words, with historian Patricia A. Schechter. The book was published in 2011.

To honor her work, Dr. Schechter and Dr. Carmen Thompson created a scholarship. The Avel Louise Gordly Scholarship for Oregon Black Women supports Black female high school graduates attending college in Oregon or at a historically Black college or university.

In 2017, Portland State University awarded Gordly an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

The City of Portland recognized her lifetime of public service. On March 30, 2022, they declared it Avel Louise Gordly Day.

See also

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office