Bettye Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bettye Davis
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| Member of the Alaska Senate from the K district |
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| In office January 8, 2001 – January 15, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Kelly |
| Succeeded by | redistricted |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 21st district |
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| In office January 18, 1993 – January 13, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Joe Ryan |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 14th district |
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| In office January 21, 1991 – January 18, 1993 Serving with Ramona L. Barnes
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| Preceded by | Walter R. Furnace |
| Succeeded by | redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bettye Jean Ivory
May 17, 1938 Homer, Louisiana |
| Died | December 2, 2018 (aged 80) Anchorage, Alaska |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Widowed |
| Residence | Anchorage, Alaska |
| Alma mater | Grambling State University |
| Profession | Social worker |
Bettye Jean Davis (born May 17, 1938 – died December 2, 2018) was an important American social worker and politician. She made history in 2000. That year, she became the first African-American person elected as an Alaska State Senator.
Davis was a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996. Later, she served in the Alaska Senate from 2000 to 2013. In the Senate, she worked on laws to help Alaska's older adults. People called her "the conscience of the Legislature." This was because she always spoke up for people who needed help.
In 2010, she was honored in the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame. After leaving the Senate, she was elected to the Anchorage School Board in 2013. She had also served on the school board in the 1980s and 1990s. Bettye Davis passed away at her home in Anchorage, Alaska when she was 80 years old.
To honor her, Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School in Anchorage was renamed after her in July 2020.
Contents
About Bettye Davis's Life
Early Life and Education
Bettye Jean Ivory was born on May 17, 1938. Her hometown was Homer, Louisiana. She finished high school in Bernice, Louisiana, in 1956.
She continued her education in college. In 1961, she earned a nursing degree. Later, in 1972, she received her bachelor's degree in social work from Grambling State University. She also studied social work at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Life in Anchorage
Bettye Davis lived in Anchorage, Alaska for over 45 years. She was very active in her community. She was a dedicated member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. She also served on the board of directors for the NAACP Anchorage branch from 1978 to 1982.
Making a Difference in Alaska
Helping Older Alaskans
Bettye Davis was known for helping people. In 2004, she helped organize a special meeting. This meeting was about "Aging Adults: Is there room for us in Alaska?" Hundreds of older Alaskans and their families shared their stories.
Because of this, Davis helped create the SeniorCare program. This program helped older people pay for prescription medicines. It was very important because another program had ended. The SeniorCare program helped many Alaskans.
The meeting also led to 39 ideas for improving services for seniors. These ideas focused on making programs better and finding more funding.
Awards and Recognitions
Bettye Davis received many awards for her work:
- In 1998, the Governor of Alaska appointed her to the State Board of Education.
- She received the Pioneer Woman of the Year Award in 2010.
- In 2010, she also got the Celebrate Liberty Award. This award was from the Alaska Civil Liberties Union.
- She was inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame in 2010.
- In 2020, the Anchorage Museum featured her. Her story was part of their "Extra Tough: Women of the North Exhibit."
- Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School was renamed in her honor in July 2020.
