From Jimmy Carter through Hillary Clinton, the highest-level Alabamian in Democratic presidential campaigns and staffs was Mobile's Alexis Herman. She died on Friday at age 77.
Bill and Hillary Clinton announced her death.
She reached her peak as U.S. Secretary of Labor in the second Bill Clinton cabinet. She had worked earlier in the Jesse Jackson for President campaign and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as director of the Bureau of Women, the youngest at the age of 29.
She later served on Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign and on those of Obama and Hillary Clinton as well.
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) said: "Today, I was saddened to learn of the death of a true hometown hero, legendary trailblazer, family friend, and mentor: Alexis Herman. She was a fighter for civil rights and women's rights, a giant in DC political circles, especially among Black women, and an all-around dynamic woman."
Herman had grown up in a different era of Mobile. She attended and graduated from the Catholic school system. Her father, Alex Herman, was a political activist in the early days of the civil rights movement, known as the "John LeFlore Era" of Mobile politics, during which black voters first became a significant force.
She was selected Mardi Gras Queen of the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association, carrying on a family tradition as her father had been the Mardi Gras King.
She attended Spring Hill College in Mobile before graduating from Xavier University of New Orleans.
Her husband had died in 2014.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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