C. Bette Wimbish

C. Bette Wimbish
In office
1969–1973
Personal details
Born(1924-03-24)March 24, 1924
Perry, Florida
DiedNovember 30, 2009(2009-11-30) (aged 85)
St. Petersburg, Florida
SpouseRalph Wimbish
Alma materFlorida A&M University (Law)

C. Bette Wimbish (March 24, 1924 – November 30, 2009) was one of the leading African-American woman activists in Florida promoting the desegregation of schools and civil equality.[1] She was most commonly known as a civil rights activist, a politician, and the first African American on the St. Petersburg, Florida city council. As well as being the first African-American to hold elected office in the Tampa Bay area in the 20th-century,[2] Wimbish was also the first black female lawyer in Pinellas County, Florida.[2] She was the wife of Ralph Wimbish and the mother of three children.[3]

  1. ^ Schnur, James (1991). Desegregation of Public School in Pinellas County, Florida. Tampa Bay History. pp. 26–43.
  2. ^ a b Meachham, Andrew (2009). "Making History on her Terms". Saint Petersburg Times.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ralph obit. was invoked but never defined (see the help page).