Yvonne B. Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne B. Miller
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Yvonne B. Miller at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
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| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 5th district |
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| In office January 13, 1988 – July 3, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Peter K. Babalas |
| Succeeded by | Kenny Alexander |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 89th district |
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| In office January 11, 1984 – January 13, 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Washington |
| Succeeded by | Jerrauld Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Yvonne Bond
July 4, 1934 Edenton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2012 (aged 77) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Norfolk State University (BS) Columbia University (MA) University of Pittsburgh (PhD) |
| Profession | Educator, politician |
Yvonne Bond Miller (July 4, 1934 – July 3, 2012) was an important educator and politician from Virginia. She made history as the first African-American woman to serve in both parts of the Virginia General Assembly, which is Virginia's state legislature.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Miller was first elected in 1983. She became the first African-American woman to win a seat in the state's House of Delegates. After serving there for four years, she was elected to the state Senate. She continued to win re-election until she passed away while still in office.
Outside of politics, Miller was a teacher in the Norfolk Public Schools. Later, she taught about early childhood education at Norfolk State University, one of the colleges she attended.
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Early Life and Education
Yvonne Bond was born on July 4, 1934, in Edenton, North Carolina. She was the oldest of thirteen children born to John T. and Pency C. Bond. Her family later moved to Norfolk, Virginia. There, she went to local public schools. During her childhood, schools in Virginia were separated by race due to state laws.
After finishing high school, Yvonne Bond attended the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College for two years. This was a historically black college, meaning it was founded to educate Black students. Today, it is known as Norfolk State University. In 1956, she earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Virginia State College in Petersburg, which was also a historically black college. While in college, Bond became a lifelong member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
Miller continued her studies, earning a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1962 from the Teachers College of Columbia University. In 1973, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in education from the University of Pittsburgh.
A Career in Education
After getting her first college degree, and while working on her advanced degrees, Yvonne Bond Miller taught for twelve years in the Norfolk Public Schools. She started teaching at Young's Park elementary school. At that time, schools were still segregated by race.
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision in a case called Brown v. Board of Education. This decision said that separating students by race in public schools was against the law. However, in Virginia, some leaders tried to stop schools from integrating. This was known as "Massive Resistance."
Even though schools in Norfolk wanted to follow the new rules, state laws made it hard. The governor could even close schools that tried to integrate. It wasn't until federal and state courts said these laws were unconstitutional that Norfolk schools were finally able to integrate peacefully.
After her time in public schools, Miller joined the education team at Norfolk State University. She taught there for 31 years. She became a professor and led the Department of Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She retired in 1999 and was given the title of professor emeritus, which is an honor for retired professors.
Miller was also very involved in many education groups. She was a lifelong member of the National Education Association and served on the boards of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. She was also active in the Association of University Women and the American Association of University Professors. For many years, she also hosted a public affairs radio show in Norfolk.
Political Career
Yvonne Miller became interested in politics and joined the Democratic Party. She cared deeply about education and the rights of minority groups. She was known as a strong voice for poor people and minorities in the General Assembly. Some even called her the "conscience" of the Democratic group in the legislature.
In 2010, Miller, along with another politician named Louise Lucas, helped Virginia officially recognize the Nottoway people as one of the state's Native American tribes.
In 2012, Miller spoke out against new laws that would require voters to show specific identification documents at polling places. She believed these laws were unfair and would make it harder for Black people to vote.
In 1983, Miller made history by becoming the first Black woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. She served two terms there, from 1984 to 1988. In 1987, she ran for and won a seat in the Senate of Virginia. She was the first African-American woman in Virginia to serve in both parts of the state legislature. She was re-elected to the Senate many times and continued to serve until her death.
At the time she passed away, Miller represented the 5th state senate district. This district included parts of the cities of Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.
Yvonne Miller was the longest-serving woman in the Virginia Senate when she died. She was also the fourth most senior member overall. Because she was re-elected so many times, she gained a lot of experience and influence. She earned a seat on the important Finance Committee, which handles the state's budget. In 1996, she became the first woman to lead a Senate committee, becoming the chair of the Transportation Committee.
Personal Life
Yvonne Miller married and took her husband's last name. She was a lifelong member and an Evangelist Missionary in the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. She was also a lifelong member of the NAACP, a civil rights organization.
Death and Legacy
Yvonne Miller passed away on July 3, 2012, at her home in Norfolk. She died from stomach cancer, just one day before her 78th birthday.
Miller is remembered as an important figure in Virginia's history. She was named among the African American Trailblazers in Virginia History. In 2013, the governor renamed the academic campuses at state correctional centers for young people in her honor. The Virginia Poverty Law Center also created an award named after Senator Miller in 2014. Norfolk State University also established an award to honor her many years of service.
