Rep. Carolyn Hugley Has Served More Than Three Decades

HD 141 State Representative Carolyn Hugley was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1992 with an overwhelming 80 percent margin to begin her more than three decades of service in January 1993.

Rep. Hugley has rarely faced a Republican opponent and is currently serving her 16^th term representing portions of Southeast Muscogee County.

She was the first African American to serve as Minority Whip of the Georgia House from 2003 to 2018. Her current committee assignments include membership on the Appropriations, Banks & Banking, Rules, and Urban Affairs Committees. She is a former chair of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee and the Women’s Legislative Caucus and currently serves as a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and the Working Families Caucus.

Rep. Hugley is committed to fighting for all Georgians and has dedicated her public service efforts to children and family issues. She is known for developing “real solutions for real people” through her work in education, health care, enhanced job opportunities and public safety. She has sponsored numerous bills which include anti-bullying legislation, legislation to keep widows of veterans in their homes, legislation to keep sexual offenders out of school zones, anti-stalking legislation and compensation resolutions for constituents who were wrongfully convicted.

Rep. Hugley’s community service and leadership activities include service as Board Chair for Fair Count and Chair of Trustees for Franchise Missionary Baptist Church, where she worships. Other notable activities include 2013 Honorary Chair Tuskegee – Morehouse Football Classic and Honorary Chair Links Day at the Capitol. Key memberships include the Lower Chattahoochee Area Workforce Investment Board, Chair Board of Directors of SISTERS, Inc, Life member and Silver Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and member of The Links, Inc., Columbus, GA Chapter. She is celebrated for developing mentoring and scholarship programs where she uses the resources of the community, legislative office and her State Farm Insurance Agency to help young people turn their college dreams into reality.

Appreciation for her leadership has been demonstrated with numerous awards from local, state, national and international organizations and a park has been named in her honor. Her many honors include: the UAPB National Alumni Hall of Fame; North Columbus Rotary Club 2023 Distinguished Woman of Achievement; J.U.G.S International, Incorporated Women of Action Honoree; National Conference of Black State Legislators (NBCSL) Crystal Excellence Award in 2009 and 2010; UNCF Mask Award; Muscogee County Democratic Party, Jack Brinkley Service Award; NAACP Humanitarian Award; NAACP President’s Award; Women’s Hall of Fame Award; Mayors Commission on Unity and Diversity Distinguished Woman Award; Legislator of the Year; Citizen of the Year, Lambda Iota Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 2010; Georgia Legislator of the Year; the Georgia Municipal Association’s Champion of Georgia Cities Award; the Sojourner Truth Meritorious Service Award; Concharty Council of the Girl Scout’s Woman of Achievement Award. She also holds the recognition as a Gracious Lady of Georgia.

Rep. Hugley was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Arkansas educators, Ruby and Walker Fleming, Jr. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with Summa Cum Laude Honors, and Mississippi State University awarded her a Master of Public Policy and Administration Degree. She has been an  independent agent for State Farm Insurance Company in Columbus for 35 years.

She is married to Columbus City Manager, Isaiah Hugley. They have two children, Kimberly and Isaiah, Jr., three grandchildren, Kandyce, Adam and Isaiah, III, and one great grandchild, Kaydance.