Celebrating 28 Days of Black Excellence. Past and Present: Maretta Mitchell Taylor

hroughout the month of February, The Courier Eco Latino will honor Black History Month by spotlighting one local African American leader—past or present—each day. The series will feature trailblazers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped shape the soul, strength, and future of our community.

These are stories that may not always make headlines, but make a difference every day. From classrooms to boardrooms, from pulpits to protest lines, from small businesses to grassroots movements, each honoree reflects resilience, leadership, and service rooted right here at home.

Maretta Mitchell Taylor, (January 25, 1935 - February 17, 2013) a pioneering educator, civic lea -der, and state lawmaker, made history as the first African American woman elected to represent Georgia House District 94 (now District 134). Her life’s work, deeply rooted in faith, education, and public service, left an indelible mark on Columbus, the state of Georgia, and countless lives across the nation.

Taylor was a proud graduate of William H. Spencer High School (Class of 1953). She earned a B.S. in Education from Albany State College in 1957 and a master’s degree from Indiana University. Her passion for lifelong learning translated into a 30-year career in education, including her tenure as a media specialist at Spencer High, where she retired in 1987.

Her leadership soared when she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. There, she championed public education, youth advocacy, and civic equity. Governor Roy Barnes appointed her to a special House study panel on information technology’s role in public libraries and technical institutes. She also served as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and sat on the Children and Youth, Special Judiciary, and Intergovernmental Coordination Committees. Within the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and Women’s Legislative Caucus, she held key leadership roles, including Secretary and Co-Chair, respectively.

One of Taylor’s proudest legislative accomplishments was her work to relocate the Tenth Street Community Center to the John B. Amos site on Steam Mill Road—a move that expanded access and impact for countless families.

Beyond politics, Taylor’s affiliations reflected a lifetime of unwavering service. She was a licensed funeral director, a board member for the YMCA, and held leadership roles in more than two dozen civic, social, and philanthropic organizations—including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Links, Inc., the Columbus Urban League, and the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC), where she served as National Director of Communication.

Her legacy endures through her daughters, Florene Dawkins and Hilda Govan-Harris, an extended family of siblings, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and countless mentees. More than a legislator or educator, Maretta Mitchell Taylor was a movement—of grace, grit, and purpose-driven leadership. She did not just make history. She shaped futures.