Capitol Hill Week: Democrat Party perspective

Ken Jobe

(April 22, 2021) - The House Democratic Caucus is mourning the passage of longtime State Senator Thelma Harper, of Nashville.  Senator Harper passed away today at the age of 80.  Senator Harper had many firsts in her long political career, including being the first woman to preside over the Senate, the first chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus, and she introduced presidential nominee Al Gore at the Democratic National Convention, in 2000.

House Minority Leader Karen Camper, who worked with Senator Harper for years said: “Thelma Harper was a titan and a trail blazer for women in politics.  Her constituents were like family to her at every level of service.  As an executive committee member, a member of Nashville’s City Council, and as the longest serving female senator in Tennessee history, Thelma Harper woke up every day thinking about how she could improve the lives of the people of her hometown. She was proud of Nashville and of her alma mater of Tennessee State University.  She was a champion for children, the elderly, and for the disadvantaged among us.  She was the first African-American woman state senator in Tennessee.  Without Thelma Harper, I do not have the opportunity to become the first African-American woman caucus leader in the Tennessee General Assembly.  She served her community and our state with humor, tenacity and grace.  She was a colleague, a mentor and a friend.  It was an honor to know and work with her and she will be greatly missed.”

Nashville State Representative Harold Love Jr. served with Senator Harper, and his father, State Rep. Harold Love Sr., did as well.  He released a statement saying: “Senator Harper was like my legislative mother and always did her best to make sure I kept my focus. As the first black female Senator in Tennessee, she was a trailblazer and set a tremendous example for how to advocate for your constituents. Her door was always open, and she was a staunch defender of her district...and for the entire state of Tennessee.  I will truly miss her wise counsel.”

“I was blessed to serve as TBCSL Vice Chairman, when Senator Harper served as TBCSL Chairlady; and I served as interim TBCSL Chairman immediately following her chairmanship,” stated Representative G. A. Hardaway, of Memphis.   “Senator Harper taught, and I learned lessons of excellence in servant leadership. She epitomized Black excellence in leadership and broke glass ceilings and the rules in service to her people.  Senator Thelma Harper was an extraordinary woman of style and substance whose legacy is Black excellence!”

Finally, Representative Antonio Parkinson, current chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, said, “Senator Thelma Harper was one of the first people that I met in Nashville after being elected.  I had my first Nashville dining experience at Harper’s Restaurant.  She was always deeply nurturing and encouraging to me as a new legislator.  My deepest condolences go out to the Harper family.”