Willie Singleton
| Willie James Singleton, Sr. | |
Louisiana State Representative
for District 3 (Caddo Parish) | |
| In office 1984–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Forrest Dunn |
|---|---|
Caddo Parish Police Jury
| |
| In office 1976–1984 | |
| Born | June 29, 1949 |
| Died | August 24, 2024 (aged 75) |
| Resting place | Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Jacqueline M. Hurst Singleton |
| Children | Gerald, Willie, Jr., and Salli Singleton |
| Residence | Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Southern University SU Law Center |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Willie James Singleton, Sr. (June 29, 1949[1] – August 20, 2024), was an African-American Democrat liberal who was a three-term member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He represented a majority black district in Shreveport from 1984 to 1996 during the administrations of Governors Buddy Roemer and Edwin Edwards.[2]
Singleton received his undergraduate degree from the historical black Southern University and his Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center, both in the capital city of Baton Rouge. In 1976, he was elected to the Caddo Parish Police Jury, reorganized in 1984 as the Caddo Parish Commission. In the legislature, Singleton was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in which capacity he worked to increase the number of black judges from six in 1976 to eighty in 1996.n 1974, Singleton established his own law firm. He was also an assistant state attorney general and was affiliated with the Louisiana Law Institute, and state and city bar associations, National Black Lawyers, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He pushed for the advancement of youth in the community through scholarships and mentorships.[3] Singleton was survived by his wife, the former Jacqueline "Jackie" M. Hurst, and children Gerald, Willie, Jr., and Salli Singleton, and grandchildren Gerald, Callie and Emilio. His services were held on August 31 at the historic and renovated Strand Theatre in downtown Shreveport.[3]
