Former state Sen. Thelma Harper – a ‘transformative’ trailblazer – dies at 80

Trailblazing former Tennessee state lawmaker Thelma Harper, who became the first African-American woman elected to the state Senate, died Thursday. She was 80. The longtime Nashville lawmaker’s daughter, Linda Harper, said in a statement that her mother died “peacefully and unexpectedly” Thursday while holding her hand. Harper, who became a senator in 1989 and was […]

Former state Sen. Thelma Harper – a ‘transformative’ trailblazer – dies at 80
Trailblazing former Tennessee state lawmaker Thelma Harper, who became the first African-American woman elected to the state Senate, died Thursday. She was 80. The longtime Nashville lawmaker’s daughter, Linda Harper, said in a statement that her mother died “peacefully and unexpectedly” Thursday while holding her hand. Harper, who became a senator in 1989 and was […]