(AURN News) — Charles Walker Sr., Georgia’s first Black Senate majority leader, has died at 78, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A longtime Augusta lawmaker, Walker served for 20 years in the Georgia General Assembly and became one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Elected to the state Senate in 1990, Walker made history in 1996 when fellow lawmakers selected him as majority leader.
According to East Point News, Walker remains, to date, the only Black person to hold that position in Georgia.
Known for his political skill and determination, Walker championed economic development in Augusta, helped revitalize the Laney Walker corridor and co-authored legislation consolidating Augusta and Richmond County.
Beyond politics, Walker was an entrepreneur who founded The Augusta Focus, a newspaper serving Augusta’s Black community.
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