Lavinia Marian Fleming Poe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lavinia Marian Fleming Poe
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| Born |
Lavinia Marian Fleming
August 13, 1890 |
| Died | March 20, 1974 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Lavinia Marian Fleming Poe (born in 1890, died in 1974) was a very important person in Virginia's history. She was the first African American woman to become a lawyer in Virginia. She passed her special lawyer's exam in 1925.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family
Lavinia Marian Fleming was born on August 13, 1890. Her family lived in Warwick County, Virginia. Her father, Archer R. Fleming, was a blacksmith. Her mother was Florence M. Carter. Lavinia mostly grew up in Newport News, Virginia.
In 1910, she married Abram James Poe. After marriage, her name became Lavinia Marian Fleming Poe. She was already married and had two children when she decided to study law.
Becoming a Lawyer
To become a lawyer, Lavinia moved her family to Washington, D.C. There, she worked as a bank teller. She also went to Howard University Law School. In 1925, she passed the Virginia bar exam. This made her the very first African American woman lawyer in Virginia.
Her Legal Career
After becoming a lawyer, Lavinia Poe returned to Newport News. She started her own law practice there. In 1927, she gained special permission. This allowed her to argue cases in front of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Virginia. She continued her law practice for many years, even into the 1960s.
Lavinia Poe was a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers. She also worked as the secretary for the Old Dominion Bar Association for 13 years. She passed away on March 20, 1974.
Honors and Recognition
In 2018, the Virginia Capitol Foundation made an important announcement. Lavinia Poe's name would be added to the glass Wall of Honor. This wall is part of the Virginia Women's Monument. It celebrates important women from Virginia's history.
See also
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Virginia
