THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Hon. Lois DeBerry

May 5, 1945 – July 28, 2013

“The time has come to elect a candidate who’s willing to go forward and serve the people.” – Lois DeBerry, 27-year-old recent graduate of Lemoyne-Owen College, upon announcing her candidacy for State Representative from District 10, April 1972.

A member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Tennessee House. She was first elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1972 and was at the time of her death the longest serving member of the House. The second African American woman to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly and the first woman to be speaker pro tempore of the House. Delegate to the National Women’s Conference, Houston, 1977.