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First Lady of Alabama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Lady of Alabama is the title given to the wife of the Governor of Alabama. As of 2024, Alabama has had 54 governors. Two have been women. Seven were widowed or unmarried and could appoint a relative as official state hostess. Felicia Steptoe Pickett remains the youngest first lady in Alabama history. She may have been 16 when she married governor Reuben Chapman who was 39[1][2] although discrepancies in that chronology have been noted.[3][4] Patsy Riley wrote a book about 11 of the state's first ladies.[5]

List

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Name Image Years Relation to Governor of Alabama Notes Ref
Mary Holman Freeman Bibb 1817-1820 wife of William Wyatt Bibb
Parmelia Thompson 1820-1821 wife of Thomas Bibb
Martha Lenoir 1821-1825 wife of Israel Pickens
n/a 1825-1829 John Murphy
Mary Parham Caller 1829-1831 wife of Gabriel Moore
n/a 1831 Samuel B. Moore
Sarah Ann Haynsworth Gayle 1831-1835 wife of John Gayle
Felicia Steptoe Pickett (1819–1870) 1847-1849 wife of Reuben Chapman[3]
Georgena Jones 1890-1894 wife of Thomas G. Jones
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Andrews Nabors 1923-1927 wife of William W. Brandon
Dixie Bibb Graves 1927–1931 wife of Bibb Graves Later became the first female U.S. senator from Alabama
Margaret Otis Duggan Miller 1931-1935 wife of Benjamin M. Miller
Dixie Bibb Graves 1935-1939 wife of Bibb Graves
Juliet Dixon 1939-1943 wife of John Dixon
Runy Ellis sister of Jim Folsom
Jamelle Folsom 1947-1951 wife of Jim Folsom
Alice Persons 1951-1955 wife of Gordon Persons
Jamelle Folsom 1955-1959 wife of Jim Folsom
Mary Jo Patterson 1959-1963 wife of John Patterson
Lurleen Wallace 1963-1967 wife of George Wallace [6]
n/a 1967-1968 Lurleen Wallace
Martha Farmer Brewer 1968-1971 Albert Brewer
Cornelia Wallace 1971-1979 wife of George Wallace
Bobbie Mae Mooney James 1979–1983 wife of Fob James
Lisa T. Wallace wife of George Wallace
Helen Hunt (née Chambers) 1987-1993 wife of H. Guy Hunt
Bobbie Mae Mooney James 1995–1999 wife of Fob James
Lori Allen Siegelman 1999-2003 wife of Don Siegelman [7]
Patsy Riley 2003-2011 wife of Bob Riley [8]
Dianne Bentley 2011-2017 wife of Robert J. Bentley
n/a 2017-present Kay Ivey

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Steptoe Pickett - A Vintage Vignette by John P. Rankin". huntsvillehistorycollection.org. February 27, 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ Kelly Kazek (August 21, 2018). "Vintage photos show Alabama's first ladies through history". al.
  3. ^ a b "Document List". huntsvillehistorycollection.org.
  4. ^ "Felicia Ann Pickett, [19 February 1819 - 28 October 1870], Born: Virginia, Died: Madison County, Alabama, Father: Stephen Steptoe Pickett, Mother: Sarah Orrick Chilton; Spouses: Reuben Chapman, Family, Genealogy". websites.umich.edu.
  5. ^ Alec Harvey (December 7, 2010). "Patsy Riley details lives of the other wives who've lived in Alabama's Governor's Mansion". al.
  6. ^ "Remembering our first lady governor - South Alabamian". South Alabamian -. May 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Chief, Dana Beyerle Montgomery Bureau. "Siegelman defends wife's travel". The Tuscaloosa News.
  8. ^ Intern, Patrick McCreless Times. "First lady Patsy Riley speaks to Woman's Club". Gadsden Times.