Miriam Witherspoon

Miriam D. Witherspoon (died April 21, 2009 in Birmingham, Alabama) an attorney and representative for District 7 in the Birmingham City Council.

Witherspoon has a degree in political science and history from Alabama A&M University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Miles School of Law. An auto accident in 1988 injured her spinal cord and left her wheelchair-bound. She has been practicing law since 1990, with a specialty in senior citizens and disability issues. She was the executive director of Senior Citizens Services of Alabama. She also served as the Attorney for Senior Citizens in Jefferson County and currently maintains a private practice in probate law.

She was first elected to the City Council in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election over six opponents for the seat vacated by Bert Miller. Her current term ends in 2009. On the Council she serves as President Pro Tempore. She also chairs Public Improvements Committee and is a member of the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee.

On the council, Witherspoon has taken a leadership role in promoting city-wide compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upon her election the Council chambers were immediately retrofitted to make them accessible for her. She sponsored the Birmingham Visti-ability Ordinance mandating disabled access in neighborhoods across the city. She proposed and later withdrew a 120% pay increase for council members in 2008.

Witherspoon was also the first African American to be honored as "Miss Wheelchair Alabama".

References

• Whitmire, Kyle (October 12, 2006) "Making the Grade: Birmingham Councilors earn their marks." Birmingham Weekly
• "Birmingham Councilwoman withdraws outrageous pay raise proposal so it can be considered by a council committee." (October 23, 2008) Birmingham News

External links

• Witherspoon's council bio at birminghamal.gov
• Birmingham City Councilwoman Miriam Witherspoon dies at Al.Com