LITTLE ROCK – On Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Arkansas announced the passing of Jimmie Lou Fisher (1941 – 2022). Fisher served as Arkansas’s State Auditor and State Treasurer, a post she held for a record 22 years. She also held the distinction of being the first female nominee for Governor of Arkansas. Fisher served as a national delegate to the Democratic National Convention four times, including both of President William Jefferson Clinton’s nominations. Since 2016, the state party has held an annual reception, the Fisher-Shackelford Dinner, celebrating the achievements of Democratic women.
“Jimmie Lou Fisher, only the third woman ever to be elected to statewide office in Arkansas, went on to serve a total of 22 years as state treasurer, longer than any other treasurer in Arkansas history,” said former Governor Mike Beebe. “Not only was she one of our state’s most devoted public servants, Jimmie Lou had a great love of life, an energetic spirit, and she was a staunch advocate for education and public service. For me personally, she was a loyal friend, a trusted advisor, and a dependable ally. Saying that she was one of a kind is not a cliché in Jimmie Lou’s case; it’s the truth and we will miss her.
“Jimmie Lou Fisher never met a stranger, and she was a friend to so many in our state,” said former Little Rock Mayor and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Lottie Shackelford. “She was a passionate and hardworking trailblazer who never stopped working for a better Arkansas. I will miss her kindness, guidance, and friendship. In so many ways she grounded me, our party, and our politics — and we are all better to have known her and benefited from her public service. I will miss hearing her say ‘Jimmie Lou Fisher from Greene County.’”
“Jimmie Lou Fisher broke barriers for women her whole life,” said former Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. “She was a champion for equality, fairness, kindness and faith. She was a giant who built others up and gave more opportunities than she took for herself. I will always love her and be grateful for the love she gave to me and the example she set for all of us to follow.”