From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American politician (1890?1964)
Florence Gibbs
(nee
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]
Early life
[
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]
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
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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
[
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]
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
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References
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]
- Source:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress