Senator Yvonne B. Miller passed away on July 3rd after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Miller was the first African American woman to serve in both the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia.  She also served as the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Miller was one of 13 children and the first to graduate high school and college in her, as well as the first to own a car.  She graduated from Norfolk State University then went on to earn a master’s degree from Columbia University and doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh.  She spent most of her years teaching at Norfolk State University. 

Yvonne Miller cared deeply about people,” Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) said, “and she was a strong voice always ready to passionately advocate for the disadvantaged, the forgotten and the overlooked.”