By Cash Michaels –
Anyone knowledgeable about Democratic politics in North Carolina for the past fifty years will agree that Dr. E. Lavonia Allison was a political force whom Democratic politicians ignored at their own risk.
“She was a close friend of my father’s,” says former state Senator Floyd McKissick Jr. “They worked together in the civil rights movement.”
From that perch, Dr. Allison got involved in Democratic politics, chairing the influential Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People for fourteen years. During her tenure, powerful Democratic politicians from Jim Hunt to Roy Cooper knew that if they wanted Durham’s important Black vote, they had to vie for the endorsement of Dr. Allison and the Durham Committee in order to earn it.
On January 7, her son Vincent posted on Facebook that at age 94, his mother had passed on peacefully, surrounded by her family.
“Dr. Allison was an incredibly strong woman who dedicated the majority of her life to the fight for social justice for her people. Her resilience, wisdom, and boundless love were the cornerstone of our family, and she will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her,” he wrote.
The tributes immediately started flowing in, beginning with former Gov. Roy Cooper on X (formerly Twitter). “North Carolina and Durham lost a trailblazer. Dr. Lavonia Allison was a steadfast advocate for her community, for education, civil rights, and so much more. Her family, friends, and everyone touched by her work are in my thoughts.”
His successor, newly elected Gov. Josh Stein, wrote in a statement the next day, “With the passing of Dr. E. Lavonia Allison, we lost an icon. She was a fierce and strong leader—a powerful and inspiring advocate for the people of Durham. I feel privileged to have known her for the past 25 years. I offer my condolences to her family and friends. May her memory be a blessing.”
Fourth District Congresswoman…
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