Pamela Sturdivant Stephenson (May 11, 1951 – June 17, 2024) was an American politician from

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. Stephenson was a Democratic member of

Georgia House of Representatives The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republican Party (United States), Repu ...

representing the state's 90th district, which includes parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. On September 10, 2020, Stephenson's daughter submitted a resignation on her behalf due to dementia. The 90th district is 86% African American according to figures from the 2000 census.

Background

Education

Stephenson received her undergraduate degree from

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

and has two master's degrees from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

. She attended the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta. There has been some debate over whether or not she graduated from law school. The registrar for the school does not show that she graduated.

Career

Stephenson was elected to the

Georgia General Assembly The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each of the General Assembly's 236 members serve two-year terms and are directl ...

in 2005. She had been the executive director of the State Health Planning agency and had served on the State Medical Education Board. She served on the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation Board of Directors. In 2018, Stephenson was hired to defend Asa North, who had been accused of causing the deaths of his children after leaving them in a hot car in Carroll County, Georgia. During the trial, she was accused of being "woefully unprepared". She did not subpoena any witnesses and repeatedly talked on her cell phone, even during opening statements. Affidavits state that the judge asked Stephensen if she was on pills. The family of Asa North has since hired another attorney. As a result of the case, on September 20, 2019, Stephenson was suspended from the practice of law in Georgia. Stephenson won her primary in June 2020, and was running unopposed for her seat. However, her daughter, acting as her guardian with power of attorney, filed a resignation with the Georgia Governor's office on September 10, 2020. Stephenson was suffering from degenerative dementia. Stephenson died on June 17, 2024, at the age of 73.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Pam 1951 births 2024 deaths Members of the Georgia House of Representatives Eastern Michigan University alumni Women state legislators in Georgia (U.S. state) University of Michigan alumni 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly