Floy Clements

Floy Mae Clements (née Stephens November 20, 1891 – September 29, 1973) was an American actress and politician in Illinois. She was the first African American woman to serve in the Illinois General Assembly upon her election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1958. Earlier in her life she was an actress in two of Oscar Micheaux films.

Biography Floy Mae Clements was born November 20, 1891, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Alexander Stephens and Katie Stephens Smith. Her family moved to Chicago when she was three.

Clements moved back to Chicago, settling in the Grand Boulevard community. In 1927, she joined the 4th Ward Democratic Organization as a precinct captain during a time when few African Americans supported the Democratic Party. She would eventually serve as the committeewoman under four different elected Ward Committeeman. Other notable civic involvement included service as Grand Traveling Deputy of the State of Illinois for the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, Worthy Matron of the Electa Chapter and Grand Officer of the Eureka Grand Chapter of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star and service to St. Mark Methodist Church.

Clements ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1958 primary with the backing of 4th ward Alderman Claude Holman. She was sworn into office on January 7, 1959. When asked why she entered politics and ran as a Democrat, she responded, “I have always, all my life, voted the straight Democratic ticket. I feel it is the party that has done most for Negroes.” During her single term in the House, Clements was assigned to the following committees; Education; Military & Veteran Affairs; Public Aid, Health Welfare and Safety; and Roads & Bridges. She was succeeded by Lycurgus Conner.

Floy Clements died in Niles, Illinois, and is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Worth Township, Illinois.