Florence Reville Gibbs

Florence Gibbs (née Reville; April 4, 1890 – August 19, 1964) was a Democratic congresswoman. Elected in special election to replace her deceased husband, she became the first woman to represent Georgia in the United States House of Representatives, serving for three months from October 3, 1940, to January 3, 1941.[1][2]

Florence Reville Gibbs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Georgia's 8th district
In office
October 3, 1940 – January 3, 1941
Preceded byW. Benjamin Gibbs
Succeeded byJohn S. Gibson
Personal details
BornApril 4, 1890
Thomson, Georgia, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 1964(1964-08-19) (aged 74)
Jesup, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseWillis Benjamin Gibbs
ResidenceJesup, Georgia
Alma materBrenau College

Early life

Florence Reville was born April 4, 1890, in Thomson, McDuffie County, Georgia.[3] She was the oldest child of Sallie Printup Reville and Thomas Porter Reville.[3] She grew up there, attending public schools, and then graduated from Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia. She married Willis Benjamin Gibbs, a Georgia attorney and politician, and together they had two children.[3]

Congress

In 1938, W. Benjamin Gibbs was elected as a Democrat to represent Georgia's Eighth congressional district in the 76th United States Congress. He took his seat on January 3, 1939, and served until his death in 1940. Florence Gibbs was elected on October 3, 1940, as a Democrat in the special election to fill the vacant seat left by her husband's death; she was sworn into office on October 3, 1940.[3] She did not run in the general election to represent the district in the 77th United States Congress, and she left office January 3, 1941.

Later life

After leaving Congress, Florence Gibbs retired from public life and resided in Jesup, Georgia, until her death there on August 19, 1964.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Georgia". CAWP. April 22, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  2. Qiu, Linda (June 21, 2017). "Fact Check: Is Karen Handel Georgia's First Female Representative?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  3. "GIBBS, Florence Reville | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  • Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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