Jamelle Folsom

Jamelle Moore Folsom (November 11, 1927 – November 30, 2012) was an American civic leader who served as the First Lady of Alabama from 1948 to 1951 and again from 1955 to 1959. The wife and widow of Governor of Alabama James E. "Big Jim" Folsom and mother of former Governor Jim Folsom, Jr., Jamelle Folsom is the only Alabama woman in history to have both married and given birth to a state governor. Her position proved controversial in its early years, including an unsuccessful move by Republican Agriculture and Industry Commissioner Jack Thompson to eliminate her post soon after he defeated Todd in the 1994 election.

Jamelle Folsom remained active in Alabama politics and other public functions throughout the remainder of her life. She was survived by five of her seven children: Jim Folsom Jr., Bama Folsom, Thelma Folsom, Melody Folsom, and Layla Folsom, and two stepchildren from Jim Folsom's first marriage, Rachel Lichenstein and Melissa Boyen.