Yvonne Kennedy

Yvonne Kennedy (January 8, 1945 – December 8, 2012) was an American politician and college president. She served in the Alabama House of Representatives for more than thirty years and was president of Bishop State Community College. She was also a national president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Early life Kennedy was born in Mobile, Alabama on January 8, 1945. Her parents were Leroy and Thelma Kennedy.

She attended Bishop State Community College where she received an associate degree. While at Alabama State, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 1964. Under her leadership, the college added new campuses and expanded its health care and technology programs.

In April 1979, she won a special election and became the representative of Mobile in the Alabama House of Representatives. She was reelected in 2006 and 2010. She worked with and was the chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus. Many of her activities in the legislature related to education, including securing funding for kindergarten, standardized testing, and better funding for public schools. She fought against voter ID laws and supported voter rights for ex-felons. She served in the legislature until she died in 2012. She was a Democrat.

She served on the American Association for Higher Education Board.

Honors Kennedy received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Lane College.

Personal life Kennedy served as national president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority from 1988 to 1992. She was a trustee of Miles College and board member of the Junior Miss Scholarship Foundation Incorporated. She was a member of the Stewart Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Mobile.

She died on December 8, 2012, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. She was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Mobile.