Nashville post office renamed to honor late State Sen. Thelma Harper

A Nashville post office has been renamed in honor of late Tennessee state lawmaker Sen. Thelma Harper, becoming one of less than 1,000 nationwide and only 11 in Tennessee named for a person. An act of Congress approved the renaming of the post office on Rosa L. Parks Boulevard to honor Harper, the first African-American woman elected to the state Senate in 1990. Additionally, Harper was the first African-American woman to chair a senate committee and was the longest-serving female senator in state history, representing District 19 for 28 years. Prior to her work in the Tennessee General Assembly, Harper served on the Metro Nashville City Council from 1983 to 1991. Federal, state, and local officials as well as members of Harper’s family were on hand for the dedication ceremony