Bobbie Jean intellect and tenaciousness influenced many elected officials to collaborate with her on initiatives to aid disenfranchised groups of people. Her career is full of courageous actions she undertook on behalf of her community.
In 1989, when Caltrans imposed eminent domain and attempted to force residents out of their homes for freeway expansion, Bobbie Jean joined forces with then-Assemblywoman Maxine Waters to organize homeowners to fight back.
Two years later, then-Governor George Deukmejian issued a moratorium against the bad-faith dealings and forced Caltrans to meet weekly with the homeowners. Each affected resident received relocation costs and fair-market value for their homes and the appropriate relocation benefits for tenants.
Also, Bobbie Jean worked alongside Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Councilmember Bernard Parks on redistricting. Bobbie Jean was appointed by then-Councilman Bernard Parks to the Redistricting Commission in 2012 and diligently fought to preserve assets for the 8th District.
In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Bobbie Jean as a commissioner on the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology where she committed to creating vocational training and career-path employment opportunities in California.
In 2001, she was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women by Mayor James Hahn. As a Commissioner, she and others led the fight against human trafficking throughout the State of California. She was later appointed to the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
In 1995, Bobbie Jean was appointed to President Bill Clinton’s Criminal Justice Taskforce. She was subsequently appointed to the Los Angeles Police Commission Permit Review Panel. Bobbie Jean continued her Criminal Justice work as the Black Women’s Forum Criminal Justice Task Force Chair.
Bobbie Jean served five terms as vice chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. In 1991, Congresswoman Waters appointed Bobbie Jean to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) and she was re-elected to serve ten additional terms. She was also a member of the DSCC Executive Board.
Bobbie Jean was a five-term member of the County Central Committee, a three-time 48th Assembly District Chair of the DSCC, served as the Treasurer of the African American Caucus of the California Democratic Party Legislative/Affirmative Action Standing Committee.
From 1999 to 2002, she served as president of the New Frontier Democratic Club, the oldest and largest African American Democratic Club in California. During her second term, she collaborated with Al Austin to organize the New Frontier Young Democratic Club.
Bobbie Jean is a long-time labor activist with SEIU Local 721. Bobbie Jean retired after 40 years of dedicated service with the County of Los Angeles including 25 years in the Office of the Public Defender. Her notable accomplishments included leading several successful pilot programs, including establishing an on-the-job training and internship program that developed high school students for long-term careers with the Public Defender’s Office.
During a time of hiring freezes and budget cuts, Bobbie Jean was honored for her “innovative and out of the box thinking” that helped the Public Defender’s Office meet critical employment needs.
She later served as Field Representative for Assemblymember Mike Davis from 2006 through 2009, where she worked to address constituent concerns and quality-of-life matters in the 48th Assembly District.
Bobbie Jean has always been passionate about domestic violence victims’ plight and volunteered more than 20 years on the board of the Jenesse Center Domestic Violence and Intervention Program.
A longtime resident of Los Angeles, Bobbie Jean lived in South L.A. for more than 25 years. After completing a course of study at the Downey Court Reporting School, she graduated from Fremont High School. She was certified by the National Shorthand Reporters Association as a Certified Shorthand Reporter.
She was the recipient of commendations for her community service, including twice being awarded L.A. County Democratic Party Democrat of the Year, the Jenesse Center Silver Rose Award for her work with Domestic Violence Victims, a Lifetime Achievement Award by SEIU Local 721, and Image of Excellence Award”\ by Mu Lambda Omega Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Cherishing her memory are her son, Andy; grandchildren, Anthony and Desiree; and great-granddaughter, Jailyn.