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Esther Haywood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Esther Haywood
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 71st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 7, 2009
Preceded byRita Heard Days
Succeeded byDon Calloway
Personal details
Born
Esther Jean Hill

(1940-01-15)January 15, 1940
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedNovember 16, 2024(2024-11-16) (aged 84)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEdward Jay Haywood
Children2
EducationLincoln University
Alma materMississippi Industrial College (Bachelor of Science)
Saint Louis University
Mississippi State University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • educator

Esther Jean Haywood (née Hill; January 15, 1940 – November 16, 2024) was an American politician and educator who served in the Missouri House of Representatives from the 71st district from 2001 to 2009.

Early life

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Born Esther Jean Hill,[1][2] Haywood was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Barret's Chapel High School. She attended Lincoln University and later graduated from Mississippi Industrial College with a Bachelor of Science. She completed graduate studies at Saint Louis University and Mississippi State University.[3] She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[3]

Career

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Haywood taught math in East St. Louis School District 189 for 30 years, including the Donald McHenry School.[3][2] She taught fourth grade in Marion, Arkansas, and was one of five black teachers at that time to integrate into Memphis-Shelby County Schools.[3] She also served in Normandy School District's board of education for 18 years, starting in 1983.[3][4]

Haywood was a Democrat. She was elected in 2000 and represented the 71st district of the Missouri House of Representatives for four terms from 2001 to 2009.[3][5]

Haywood was a member of the Normandy Hospital Guild.[3]

Personal life

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She married Edward Jay Haywood.[1][3] They were married for 55 years. They lived in St. Louis County. She had two daughters.[3] She was a member of Murchison Tabernacle CME Church.[3]

Haywood died on November 16, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri, aged 84.[6]

Awards

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Haywood received a number of awards, including the Hill to Hill Award from Lincoln University, the Lifetime Achievement Award from AFT of District 189, NAACP's National Youth Work Award, and Legislator of the Year from both AT&T Missouri and the University of Missouri, St. Louis.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Two Couples Apply". Columbia Tribune. February 18, 1959. p. 4. Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b "Esther Jean Haywood (incumbent)". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 27, 1986. p. N1. Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Franklin, Danielle Mae (November 27, 2018). "Esther Haywood: A Woman Worth Honoring". The Missouri Times. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Brasch, Phyllis; Barrett, Courtney (April 6, 1983). "Voters in County Oust 7 School Board Incumbents". p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^ "Representative Esther Haywood". Missouri House of Representatives. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Former Missouri Rep. Esther Haywood dies". Ksdk.com. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.