Mamie George S. Williams, First Woman to Speak at National Republican Convention, Honored with Historical Marker in Hometown Savannah, Georgia for Women’s Rights Work and Community Activism”
The city of Savannah, Georgia honored Mamie George S. Williams, the first woman to speak at a National Republican Convention, with a historical marker at the Carnegie Library. Williams was a women’s rights advocate and community activist who dedicated over 30 years to serving her community. She believed deeply in women’s rights and worked tirelessly to advocate for and educate women on voting rights, registering African American women to vote, and organizing 160 voter campaigns in Georgia. Williams also made history as the first African American woman appointed to serve on the National Republican Committee.
The dedication ceremony was a collective effort by The Georgia Historical Society, the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia, Savannah’s Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, and The Savannah Tribune. The new marker for Williams lies in Dixon Park, near where she lived. Williams is remembered for organizing the National Republican League of Colored Women Voters, which was the first and only national political organization of its kind in the country. Through her work as a suffragist and community activist, Williams made a significant contribution to the state and the community. The dedication ceremony emphasized how Williams spoke up for African Americans and how much she cared about the youth, and her spirit continues to inspire and motivate people today.