Daisy Elliott

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: 1963-64 22nd District: 1965-72
In office January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1978
Preceded by	Frederick Yates
Succeeded by	Ed Vaughn
Member of the 1961-62 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

Early life

Elliott was born Daisy Elizabeth Lenoir in Filbert, West Virginia, United States, 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.

Career

A Democrat, she represented Wayne County's 4th District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1963–64, Michigan's 22nd District, which replaced Wayne County's 4th District, from 1965–72, and Michigan's 8th District from 1973–78. 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.[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

She was a member of Democratic Party, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), League of Women Voters, and Junior League.[1] She died on December 22, 2015, aged 98, at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit.[6][7] She is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan) near the Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel.

References

1. "The Political Graveyard". Politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
2. Gubbins, Roberta M. (September 17, 2012). "Legal Milestone honors Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act". Oakland County Legal News. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/97759498/
4. https://www.newspapers.com/image/99110836/
5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/99518188/
6. Hicks, Mark (December 23, 2015). "Daisy Elliott, Detroiter behind historic law, dies". The Detroit News.
7. Stafford, Katrease (December 23, 2015). "Daisy Elliott, Detroit civil rights activist, dies". The Detroit Free Press.

External links

• "Daisy Elliott, Michigan civil rights activist, dies". Freep.com. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
• Edward, Roz. "Civil Rights icon Daisy Elliott dies at 98 | The Michigan Chronicle". Michronicleonline.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
• "Daisy Elliott, Detroiter behind historic law, dies". Detroitnews.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.