Curtis Graves

Curtis Graves
Curtis Graves
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 23-6
	In office; January 10, 1967 – January 9, 1973
Personal details
Born	August 26, 1938; New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	July 26, 2023 (aged 84); Tucker, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Kay Bryant; Joanne Graves (divorced)
Children	3, including Gizelle Bryant
Relatives	Marc Morial (cousin)
Alma mater	Texas Southern University Princeton University

Curtis M. Graves (August 26, 1938 – July 26, 2023) was an American civil rights activist and politician in the state of Texas. He was one of the first African Americans to serve in the Texas House of Representatives since the Reconstruction.

Early life

Curtis Matthew Graves was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 26, 1938, to Joseph and Mable Graves.[1][2]

Career

Graves was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1973 as a Democrat.[3] Along with Barbara Jordan and Joe Lockridge, he was one of three African-American members elected in 1966, the first ones since 1896.[4][5] Graves was a major force in the Civil Rights Movement who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A businessman, he was an alumnus of Texas Southern University and Princeton University. He also worked for NASA's academic affairs division and as Director for Civil Affairs. Graves was an artistic photographer.[6][7]

Personal life

Curtis Graves was married to Joanne Graves, with whom he had three children. One of his children is Gizelle Bryant, star of The Real Housewives of Potomac and former wife of megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant.

On his maternal side Graves was cousin to Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former New Orleans mayor.

Graves was married to Kay Bryant and resided in Atlanta, Georgia.[8][9]

Curtis Graves died on July 26, 2023, at the age of 84.[10]

References

"You Are Invited Today: The Works of Curtis Graves Entitled "Louisiana Remembered: Visual Stories Linking Past to Present"". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
"Curtis Graves in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.
"Texas Legislators: Past & Present – Mobile". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
"Texas Politics – Race and Ethnicity in the Texas Legislature". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
"AFRICAN AMERICANS AND POLITICS". Retrieved November 21, 2014.
"All About Curtis".
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Who's who Among Black Americans. December 1985. ISBN 978-0-915130-96-2. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/tucker-ga/curtis-graves-11386916
"Curtis Graves, Famed Civil Rights Activist and Father of 'RHOP' Star Gizelle Bryant, Dead at 84". People. July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.

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[1] "You Are Invited Today: The Works of Curtis Graves Entitled "Louisiana Remembered: Visual Stories Linking Past to Present"". Retrieved November 21, 2014.

[2] "Curtis Graves in the 1940 Census | Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.

[3] "Texas Legislators: Past & Present – Mobile". Retrieved November 21, 2014.

[4] "Texas Politics – Race and Ethnicity in the Texas Legislature". Retrieved November 21, 2014.

[5] "AFRICAN AMERICANS AND POLITICS". Retrieved November 21, 2014.

[6] "All About Curtis".

[7] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[8] Who's who Among Black Americans. December 1985. ISBN 978-0-915130-96-2. Retrieved November 21, 2014.

[9] ttps://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/tucker-ga/curtis-graves-11386916

[10] "Curtis Graves, Famed Civil Rights Activist and Father of 'RHOP' Star Gizelle Bryant, Dead at 84". People. July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.