Rosa Lee Franklin (née Gourdine; born April 4, 1927) is an American politician and nurse who served as a member of the
Washington State Senate from 1993 to 2011, representing the for the 29th District. She also served as the President Pro Tempore for the Senate.
Early life and education
Franklin was born Rosa Lee Gourdine on April 4, 1927, the fifth child born to Henrietta Bryant and James Edwin Gourdine. She was born in a house built by her father in Cordesville, an unincorporated community in Berkeley County, South Carolina, historically known for
Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The youngest of 12 children, she was raised by her aunt and uncle in
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, South Carolina, Georgetown County, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census ...
. After graduating high school, Franklin studied nursing at the
Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital School of Nursing in
Columbia, South Carolina. She later worked at a state hospital in
New Jersey and at the
Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and Medical Center
The Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and Medical Center was an academic, sectarian hospital in Crown Heights and Prospect Heights in Central Brooklyn. It merged with St. John's Episcopal Hospital to form Interfaith Medical Center in 1983.
History
Ear ...
in
New York City. Franklin moved to
Germany with her husband, James Franklin, a member of the military. They eventually relocated to
Tacoma, Washington.
After settling in Tacoma, Franklin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and English from the
University of Puget Sound. She then earned a Master of Arts in social sciences and human relations from
Pacific Lutheran University in
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 63,612 at the 2020 census.
History
Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes Distric ...
. She also holds a women's Health Care Specialist Certificate from the
University of Washington Gynecorp Training Program.
[Official Rosa Franklin Biography on the Washington Senate Democratic Caucus website](_blank)
/ref> She was later awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Puget Sound.
Career
Franklin worked as a registered nurse
A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...
before becoming an elected representative.Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
and as a member of the League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...
. She was a Washington delegate to the Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...
in 1976, 1988, and 2008.
Franklin was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1990 to represent the 29th District, and she won re-election in November 1992. After the state senator from the 29th district died in January 1993, Franklin was nominated as his successor.
Personal life
Franklin and her husband James have been married for sixty-two years and have three children and five grandchildren.
See also
*Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senat ...
References
1927 births
Living people
Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators
Women state legislators in Washington (state)
African-American state legislators in Washington (state)
African-American women in politics
American nurses
21st-century African-American people
21st-century African-American women
20th-century African-American people
20th-century African-American women
Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives
African-American nurses
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