Josetta Wilkins

Josetta Edwards Wilkins (July 17, 1932 – August 25, 2023)[1] was an educator, counselor, and state legislator in Arkansas. She served four terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1999.[2][3]

She lived in Pine Bluff.[4] Wilkins first announced her intent to seek election to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1991, at the age of 58, following the death of her husband, Henry Wilkins III, who at the time of his death had held the seat since 1973.[5] As a legislator, Wilkins "was one of the early sponsors of Breast Cancer Act and worked over a period of four years to get passed".[6] In 1999, the Governor's Breast Cancer Control Advisory Board established the "Josetta Wilkins Award" to honor champions of saving lives from the disease, with Wilkins being the first recipient of the award.[6] In 2022 a Health Unit was named for her.[7] Her son, Henry "Hank" Wilkins IV, also served in the state legislature.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Former state Rep. Josetta Wilkins dies | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". www.arkansasonline.com. 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  2. ^ "Black History Month 2021". Arkansas House of Representatives.
  3. ^ "Dr. Josetta Wilkins". June 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Representative Josetta Wilkins
  5. ^ Joan I. Duffy, "Widow seeks seat", The Commercial Appeal (April 2, 1991), p. A9.
  6. ^ a b "Breast Cancer Program To Begin Fight Against Breast Cancer", The Madison County Record (April 29, 1999), p. 6.
  7. ^ "New Jefferson Co. Health Unit named after trailblazing former legislator". 8 March 2022.
  8. ^ Clinton, Bill; Kearney, Janis F. (May 5, 2006). Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton : from Hope to Harlem. writing our world press. ISBN 9780976205814 – via Google Books.