Curtis Graves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curtis Graves
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| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 23-6 | |
| In office January 10, 1967 – January 9, 1973 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1938 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 26, 2023 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Kay Bryant Joanne Graves (divorced) |
| Children | 3, including Gizelle Bryant |
| Alma mater | Texas Southern University Princeton University |
Curtis M. Graves (August 26, 1938 – July 26, 2023) was an American civil rights activist and former politician in the state of Texas. He was one of the first African Americans to serve in the Texas House of Representatives since the Reconstruction.
Early life
Graves was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1938 to Joseph and Mable Graves.
Career
He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1973 as a Democrat. Along with Barbara Jordan and Joe Lockridge, he was one of three African-American members elected in 1966, the first ones since 1896. Graves was a major force in the Civil Rights Movement who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A businessman, he was an alumnus of Texas Southern University and Princeton University. He also worked for NASA's academic affairs division and as Director for Civil Affairs. Graves was an artistic photographer.
Personal life
He was married to Joanne Graves, with whom he had three children. One of his children is Gizelle Bryant, star of The Real Housewives of Potomac and former wife of megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant.
On his maternal side Graves is cousin to Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former New Orleans mayor.
Curtis was married to Kay Bryant and resided in Atlanta, Georgia.
On July 28, 2023, Graves' daughter, Gizelle, revealed via Instagram that he passed away. Graves passed away on July 26, 2023.
