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Gail Davenport is a community leader, Civil Rights activist and humanitarian. gail_davenport2She is a graduate of W.A. Fountain High School, Forest Park, Georgia and Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia. She is a life member of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, recipient of the Atlanta Chapter’s 2001 Outstanding Alumna Award, the 2002 Spelman College Board of Trustees Community Service Award, and the 2008 Merit Award by the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College.

In September 1997, she established the Henry and Clara Dixon Education Fund in honor of her maternal grandparents to help students purchase books while attending college. Also, she founded COLLEGE BOUND, an initiative to motivate and encourage high school students to attend college.

Ms. Davenport serves as the State Senator for the 44th District of Georgia, which includes portions of Clayton County and Henry County. Senator Davenport serves on the following committees: Veterans, Military and Homeland Security; Urban Affairs; State Institutions and Property; Secretary of Special Judiciary; and Interstate Cooperation –Vice Chairman. She is a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus, Working Families Agenda Caucus, WILL/Women Legislators’ Lobby, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Organization of Black Elected Legislators, and the Vice Chairman of the Clayton County Legislative Delegation.

Ms. Davenport was a delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, GA pledged to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, MA pledged to Senator John Kerry, and a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO pledged to Senator Barack Obama. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Clayton County Democratic Party.

Her other achievements include:

Founder and President of the Concerned Black Citizens Coalition of Clayton County which spearheads the county’s annual ecumenical observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. ∙ The organization led the charge to have the Clayton County School Board name a school in Dr. King’s honor.

Founder of the Clayton County Black History Center, Metro South Youth Association and the Clayton County Sojourner Truth Verse Speaking Choir.

Received the 1997 Outstanding Community Leader of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women, Clayton County Section.

Received the Community Leader of the Century Award by the Women in the NAACP, September 1999.

Received the 1989 and 1996 NAACP, Clayton County Branch Image Award for Distinguished Service

Legislator of the Year Award 2008 from the ARC of Clayton County for Mentally Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and Legislator of the Year Award 2008 from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Clayton-Henry-Fayette-Spalding Chapter.

Past President of the American Business Women’s Association, Greenbriar Chapter, 1992 Woman of the Year, Member Choice Award, Hall of Fame Award and Inner Circle Member.

2003 Pinnacle Leadership Award Recipient from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, East Point/College Park Chapter.

Chairperson of the United Negro College Fund for the past twenty years. She has received the UNCF Distinguished Leadership Award, Star Volunteer Award and the 2000 Mayor’s Masked Award, Atlanta, GA.

A 1989 Graduate of Leadership Clayton.

Recruited approximately 100 youth for the Hook-A-Kid on Golf Tee Level Clinics at River’s Edge Golf Club in Fayetteville and Browns Mill Golf Club in Atlanta.

Hosted the Gail P. Davenport Golf Classic to raise funds for local charities for the past ten years.

President of the RainbowPUSH Coalition, Clayton-Henry-Fayette-Spalding Chapter.