Floy Clements

{{Short description|American politician (1891–1973)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Floy Clements | image = | alt = | birth_name = Floy Stephens | birth_date = November 20, 1891 | birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee | death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|1973|09|29|1891|11|20}} | death_place = Niles, Illinois | resting_place = Lincoln Cemetery | resting_place_coordinates = | state_house = Illinois | state = Illinois | district = 22nd | term_start = {{Start date|1959|01|7}} | term_end = {{End date|1961|01|4}} | preceded = Cecil A. Partee {{small|(moved to 21st)}} | succeeded = Lycurgus Conner

| party = Democratic | other_party =  | spouse =  | partner =  | relations = | children = | alma_mater = Wilberforce University | occupation = | profession = | committees = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }} '''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.<ref name="ILRU 2016"/><ref name="Joy">{{cite news|author=|title=Joy For Floy, She Registers A 1st|date=April 19, 1958|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=|title=Mrs. Kate Stephens Smith Dies After Long Illness|date=October 23, 1926|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref> Her family moved to Chicago when she was three.<ref name="Foster"/> Her father opened a chain of restaurants on the south side of the city.<ref name="Joy"/> She attended Wendell Phillips High School<ref name=":0" /> followed by Wilberforce University, where she graduated with a degree in social studies.<ref name="Status Report"/> While at Wilberforce, she portrayed Alma Prichard in the 1920 silent film drama ''Within Our Gates'', directed by Oscar Micheaux, and starring Evelyn Preer. She also had a supporting role in Micheaux's 1920 film ''The Brute''.<ref name="Foster">{{cite news|last=Foster|first=A.L.|title=Other Peoples Business: A Proud First|date=November 22, 1958|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref>

Clements moved back to Chicago, settling in the Grand Boulevard community.<ref>{{cite news|author=|title=Clubwoman's Passing Mourned|date=November 30, 1960|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref> 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.<ref name="First Femme"/> In 1935, she was a member of the Negro Women’s Division of the Illinois Democratic Women’s Club.<ref name=":0" />

During World War II, Clements was a member of the American Red Cross Motor Corps.<ref>{{cite news|author=|title=Motor Corps Auxiliary Has 20 Graduates: First Aid Classes Get Certificates|date=August 1, 1942|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Status Report">{{cite web|editor-last=Bone|editor-first=Jan|title=Commission on the Status of Women. Report and Recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly|page=26|date=June 1974|publisher=Illinois Commission on the Status of Women|location=Springfield, Illinois|access-date=August 21, 2017|url=http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED096595.pdf}}</ref>

Clements ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1958 primary with the backing of 4th ward Alderman Claude Holman.<ref name="First Femme">{{cite news|author=|title=Floy Clement Seated As First Femme Legislator|date=January 17, 1959|newspaper=Chicago Defender|page=3}}</ref> She was sworn into office on January 7, 1959.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Grossman |first=Ron |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Flashback: Lost to history: Floy Clements and her historic rise to become state's first Black female lawmaker |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/02/19/flashback-lost-to-history-floy-clements-and-her-historic-rise-to-become-states-first-black-female-lawmaker/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> 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.”<ref name=":0" /> According to the Chicago Tribune, the Moline Dispatch reported in 1958 that “Mrs. Clements said she was drafted for the post” and “has no particular political ambitions.”<ref name=":0" />

She served as one of three representatives from the 22nd district with Republican Elwood Graham and fellow Democrat Charles F. Armstrong.<ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/bb/id/12763 Illinois Blue Book 1959-1960] Page 247</ref> 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.<ref name="ILRU 2016">{{cite web|last1=Musser|first1=Ashley|last2=Dutton|first2=Julie|title=Illinois Women in Congress and General Assembly|date=February 11, 2016|publisher=Illinois Legislative Research Unit|location=Springfield, Illinois|access-date=August 21, 2017|url=http://ilga.gov/commission/lru/FemaleLegislators.pdf}}</ref> She was succeeded by Lycurgus Conner.<ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/bb/id/14562 Illinois Blue Book 1961-1962] page 273</ref>

Floy Clements died in Niles, Illinois, and is buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Worth Township, Illinois.<ref>{{cite news|author=|title=Mrs. Clements rites|date=September 29, 1973|newspaper=Chicago Defender}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clements, Floy}} Category:1891 births Category:1973 deaths Category:20th-century American women politicians Category:Actresses from Memphis, Tennessee Category:African-American state legislators in Illinois Category:20th-century African-American women politicians Category:American silent film actresses Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Wilberforce University alumni Category:Women state legislators in Illinois Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:20th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly