Patsy Jo Hilliard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patsy Jo Hilliard
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Born |
Patsy Jo Morrison
August 20, 1937 |
Nationality | American |
Education | Bachelor of interdisciplinary social sciences 1976 |
Alma mater | San Francisco State University |
Occupation | Educator, Education Administrator, Mayor |
Spouse(s) | Asa Grant Hilliard III |
Patsy Jo Hilliard, born on August 20, 1937, is an amazing African-American leader. She has been a teacher, a school leader, and even the mayor of East Point, Georgia. Patsy Jo made history by being the first woman on the South San Francisco Unified School District board. She was also the first African-American woman to become mayor of East Point and the first in the entire state of Georgia!
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Patsy Jo Hilliard: Her Early Life and School Days
Patsy Jo Hilliard was born Patsy Jo Morrison in Denver, Colorado. Her parents were Elmer Dudley Morrison II and Jessie Morrison. In 1955, she finished high school at Manual High School with her future husband, Asa Grant Hilliard III.
After high school, Patsy Jo went to Los Angeles State College in 1956. While studying, she also worked as a supervisor on playgrounds for the Los Angeles school system. She loved learning! In 1976, she earned her Bachelor's degree in social sciences from San Francisco State University. Later, in 2008, she received a special honorary doctorate from Sojourner–Douglass College.
Patsy Jo Hilliard's Amazing Career
Patsy Jo Hilliard has had a very interesting career, helping people in many ways.
Teaching and School Leadership
In 1964, Patsy Jo volunteered as a first-grade teacher in Monrovia, Liberia. She worked with an organization called American Women in Liberia. She then became a board member for the South San Francisco Unified School District in 1975. She was the first African-American woman to hold this important position.
Becoming a Mayor
In 1993, Patsy Jo Hilliard made history again! She was elected mayor of East Point, Georgia. This made her the first woman and the first African-American person to be mayor in that city. She was also the first African-American woman mayor in the entire state of Georgia. Patsy Jo served as mayor of East Point until 2006. She was mayor for longer than anyone else in that town!
After Being Mayor
After her time as mayor, Patsy Jo continued to be active. In 2007, she hosted her own TV talk show called "In the Know with Patsy Jo." Today, she is the CEO of Waset Educational Production Company, which she started with her husband. This company helps create educational materials. She also runs Ancient African Study Tours, which organizes trips to Egypt for learning.
Working with Different Groups
Throughout her career, Patsy Jo Hilliard has worked with many different groups. These include the East Point Business Association and the Superintendents Advisory Board of the Fulton County School District. She has also been involved with the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club, the Atlanta High Museum of Art, and the DeYoung Museum of Art. She served as President of the Atlanta chapter of Links, Inc. and the Atlanta Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She also served on the Executive Board of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP.
Honors and Awards for Patsy Jo Hilliard
Patsy Jo Hilliard has received many special awards for her hard work and leadership. She earned the Drum Major for Justice Medal from the SCLC and the Torch Award from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She also received the Public Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Patsy Jo has been added to the Atlanta Business League Women's Hall of Fame. For six years in a row, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women. She was even chosen as one of six mayors from the United States to attend a special conference in Japan called the Japan-US Mayors Friendship Exchange Conference.
Patsy Jo Hilliard's Family Life
Patsy Jo Hilliard was married to Asa Grant Hilliard III, who was a well-known African-American historian. He passed away in 2007. They had four children together: Asa IV, Robi, Patricia, and Hakim. They also had eight grandchildren: Maia, Terry, T'Shaka, Foluke, Xavier, Dayo, Shaidah, and Asa Pearl.