Georgia Davis Powers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georgia Davis Powers
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Powers (right) in 2010
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| Member of the Kentucky State Senate | |
| In office January 1968 – January 1989 |
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| 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 |
| Parents | Frances Walker and Ben Gore Montgomery |
| Occupation | Politician, civil rights activist |
Georgia Davis Powers (born Montgomery; October 19, 1923 – January 30, 2016) was an important American politician. She served for 21 years as a state senator in the Kentucky Senate. In 1967, she made history. She was the first person of color and the first woman ever elected to the Kentucky Senate.
During her time as a senator, she was known as a strong supporter for many groups. This included Black people, women, children, the poor, and people with disabilities. She led important committees like Health and Welfare (1970–76) and Labor and Industry (1978–88).
Powers went to Louisville Municipal College. She also worked for groups that fought for civil and equal rights. She received special honors, including honorary doctorates from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. She passed away in 2016.
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Early Life and Education
Georgia Montgomery was born on October 19, 1923. Her birthplace was Jimtown, Kentucky, a small Black community near Springfield, Kentucky. She grew up in a large family with eight brothers.
When she was young, a tornado destroyed her family's home. This led her parents, Frances Walker and Ben Gore Montgomery, to move the family to Louisville. In Louisville, she went to all-Black schools. These included Virginia Avenue Elementary School and Madison Junior High School.
She graduated from Central High School in 1940. From 1940 to 1942, she attended Louisville Municipal College.
As a young wife and mother to her adopted son, William (Billy), Georgia and her husband Norman Davis joined the New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Louisville. A friend from church, Verna Smith, encouraged her to get involved in politics. This led her to join the campaign team for U.S. Senator Wilson Wyatt.
In the early 1960s, Montgomery worked for the Allied Organization for Civil Rights. She helped promote laws across the state. These laws aimed to ensure fair public services and equal job opportunities for everyone.
Making a Difference in Public Office
Georgia Davis Powers was elected to the Kentucky Senate in January 1968. She served until January 1989. During her time, she worked hard to create new laws. She sponsored bills to stop discrimination in jobs based on race, sex, or age. She also introduced laws for fair housing across the state.
One of her important actions was leading the effort to change the words of Kentucky's state song, My Old Kentucky Home, in 1986. Many people felt some of the original words were racially unfair.
Early in her term, she helped pass an "open housing" bill. This was the first such law in any southern state. Even as an elected official, she faced segregation. She could not get a room in a hotel in Frankfort because of her race.
Powers also supported laws to improve education for people with physical and mental disabilities. She was a member of several important committees. These included the Cities Committee, Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, and the Rules Committee. She also served as secretary of the Democratic caucus for many years. She led two legislative committees: Health and Welfare, and Labor and Industry.
Former Governor Breathitt spoke highly of her. He called her "one of the real heroes of the Civil Rights Movement." He said she was very effective in getting votes for the causes she believed in. She was known for her strong positions and wonderful personality.
In her book, I Shared the Dream, Powers wrote about her close friendship with Martin Luther King Jr.. She shared that she was in Memphis at the Lorraine Motel when King was assassinated in 1968.
After she left the Kentucky Senate in 1988, she continued to fight for equal rights. In 1990, she started Friends of Nursing Home Residents (FONHRI). This group organized volunteers to visit nursing homes in Louisville. In 1994, she created QUEST (Quality Education for All Students). This organization watched the Jefferson County school board. Its goal was to prevent schools from becoming segregated again.
Awards and Special Honors
Georgia Davis Powers was recognized for her important work. In 1989, her photo was part of a national exhibit. It was called Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.
She also received honorary degrees from two major universities. In 1989, she got an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Kentucky. She also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Louisville.
Later Years and Passing
Georgia Davis Powers passed away on January 30, 2016. She died at her brother's home in Louisville. She had been dealing with congestive heart failure for several years.
Lasting Legacy
Georgia Davis Powers left a lasting mark on Kentucky and the nation. In 2010, the Kentucky Legislature honored her. They renamed a part of I-264 in Louisville the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway. This highway runs through the West End of Louisville.
The University of Kentucky also created a special position in her name. This "endowed chair" is part of the university's Center for Research on Violence Against Women. Her legacy continues to inspire others to work for justice and equality.
