Vanessa Joyce Summers is a
Democratic member of the
Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 99th District in her native
Indianapolis since being appointed to the seat following the death of her father Del.
Joseph W. Summers in 1991. Like her father, Vanessa Summers won re-election multiple times, and in 2012 became the first female as well as the first African-American to lead the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.
Background
Her parents had married in 1948, after both her father Joseph W. Summers (1930–1991) and mother Joyce Benson Summers (d. 2014) had graduated from
Crispus Attucks High School
Crispus Attucks High School (also known as Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School) is a high school of the Indianapolis Public Schools in Indianapolis, in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is named for Crispus Attucks (c.1723 – March 5, 1770), ...
, when it was the only secondary school open to African Americans in Indianapolis. Vanessa Summers has a sister (Natalie), and graduated from the former St. Mary's Academy for Girls, then the only private secondary school in the city that would accept African-American pupils (it closed in 1977). Summers attended
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th st ...
, and in 1981 received an associate degree in mortuary science from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science.
Career
In 1962, when she was an infant, her father had established the Summers Funeral Chapels, and would also serve many years as Indianapolis' deputy coroner. Meanwhile, her mother operated "Lucille's Flowers" for four decades. In 1977, when Vanessa was a teenager, her father won election as a Democrat to the state legislature (a part-time position), and would wim re-election multiple times, representing the 99th district in Indianapolis until his death in 1991. Vanessa Summers and her sister worked in the family funeral home chain, which merged with other local mortuaries in 2002 and 2016, although "Lavenia & Summers" still operates funeral homes in Indianapolis.
In the Indiana legislature, which was then evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, Summers was appointed to her father's seat for the remaining eight months of the term. Following the advice of
Julia Carson
Julia May Carson (née Porter; July 8, 1938 – December 15, 2007) was a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 1997 until her death in 2007 (numbered as the 10th District from 1997 to 2003). , a fellow Indianapolis Democrat (who had served in both houses of the Indiana legislature and would win election to the U.S. Congress), Vanessa Summers ran for election on her own behalf, won and was re-elected multiple times. She faced neither primary nor general election opponents in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and defeated Republican David T. Blank in 2010 in the overwhelmingly Democrat district, when the Republicans won a legislative majority. Summers is a member of the
Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, the National Black Caucus and the
Marion County Democratic party.
[Indiana State Legislature - Representative Vanessa Summers](_blank)
Official government website
In addition to her legislative duties, Summers coordinates the national Diabetes Prevention Program in Indianapolis, and has also worked for the Amazing Grace Healthcare Coalition, The ARC of Indiana (a statewide advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities and their families), and the Julian Center shelter (a domestic violence center).
Personal life
Vanessa Summers is a member of the
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the
NAACP; and the Light of the World Christian Church. Formerly married, she has a son and granddaughter.
References
External links
Project Vote Smart - Representative Vanessa J. Summers (IN)profile
*''Follow the Money'' - Vanessa J Summer
2006200420022000199819961994
campaign contributions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Summers, Vanessa
Democratic Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives
1958 births
Living people
Politicians from Indianapolis
Women state legislators in Indiana
African-American state legislators in Indiana
African-American women in politics
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
21st-century African-American women
21st-century African-American politicians
20th-century African-American people
20th-century African-American women