Daisy L. Elliott (November 26, 1917 – December 22, 2015) was an American politician and realtor from the state of Michigan.[1]
Daisy L. Elliott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| In office January 1, 1981 – December 31, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Vaughn |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 8th district Wayne County 4th district: 1963–1964 22nd district: 1965–1972 | |
| In office January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick Yates |
| Succeeded by | Ed Vaughn |
| Member of the 1961–1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention from the Wayne County 4th district | |
| In office October 1, 1961 – August 1, 1962 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Daisy Elizabeth Lenoir November 26, 1917 Filbert, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2015 (aged 98) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Realtor, politician |
| Awards | Michigan Women's Hall of Fame 2016 |
Early life
editElliott was born Daisy Elizabeth Lenoir in Filbert, West Virginia, and resided in Detroit, Michigan. She was a delegate to the 1961–1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention from Wayne County's 4th district, which resulted in Michigan's Constitution of 1963.[citation needed]
Career
editA Democrat, she represented Wayne County's 4th district in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1963 to 1964, Michigan's 22nd district, which replaced Wayne County's 4th district, from 1965 to 1972, and Michigan's 8th district from 1973 to 1978. She was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary for the Michigan Senate 5th district in 1978.[1] then regained her old seat in the Michigan House in 1980. In politics, Elliott was nothing if not persistent: she was defeated five times in the primaries for State Representative (the 1st district in 1950, the 11th district in 1954, and the 4th district in 1956, 1958 and 1960) before finally winning in 1962.
While serving in the Michigan State House of Representatives, she co-authored the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which passed in 1976, with Melvin L. Larsen.[2]
In April 1982, Elliott was arrested for possessing a stolen 1977 Cadillac.[3] She was defeated by Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick in the Democratic primary that year, and, after numerous appeals, had her conviction upheld in 1984.[4] She served sixty days in jail before being released in June 1985.[5]
Political career
editShe was a member of Democratic Party, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), League of Women Voters, and Junior League.[1]
Death and legacy
editShe died on December 22, 2015, aged 98, at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit.[6][7] She is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery near the Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel.
In 2016, she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[8] On June 30, 2020, the Lewis Cass Building in Lansing was renamed the Elliott-Larsen Building in honor of Larsen and Elliot.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Political Graveyard: Elliott, Daisy L. (1917–2015)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ Gubbins, Roberta M. (September 17, 2012). "Legal Milestone honors Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act". Oakland County Legal News. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ Kushma, David (April 6, 1982). "Legislator arrested in stolen car case". Detroit Free Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dzwonkowski, Ron (May 8, 1984). "Legislator's conviction in stolen car case upheld". Detroit Free Press. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former state Rep. Elliott in jail". Detroit Free Press. April 28, 1985. p. 70 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hicks, Mark (December 23, 2015). "Daisy Elliott, Detroiter behind historic law, dies". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ^ Baldas, Tresa; Stafford, Kat (December 23, 2015). "Daisy Elliott, Detroit civil rights activist, dies". The Detroit Free Press.
- ^ "Daisy Elliott". Michigan Women Forward. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Michigan Executive Order 2020-139 Naming the "Elliott-Larsen Building"" (PDF). Govdelivery. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
External links
edit- Edward, Roz (December 23, 2015). "Civil Rights icon Daisy Elliott dies at 98". Michigan Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.