PORTLAND, OR – February 19, 2026 – Avel Louise Gordly, a historic figure who broke racial barriers as the first Black woman elected to the Oregon State Senate, has died. She was 79. Gordly passed away peacefully from natural causes on Monday, February 16, at her home in Portland . Her death marks the end of a remarkable life dedicated to public service, civil rights, and mental health advocacy.
Known affectionately as the “conscience of the state Senate,” Gordly’s influence extended far beyond the political arena . For nearly two decades in the Legislature, she fought tirelessly to make Oregon live up to its promises. She was a powerful voice for the marginalized and a mentor to a generation of leaders . Her family, including her son Tyrone Wayne Waters and sister Faye Burch, survive her .
Championing Justice and Erasing Racist Laws
Gordly’s legislative legacy is marked by her successful fight to confront Oregon’s painful history. She was instrumental in removing racist language from the state constitution. These were the infamous Black exclusion laws from the 19th century that explicitly banned Black people from settling in Oregon . Her work helped cleanse the state’s founding documents of their most egregiously racist passages.
Beyond constitutional changes, she championed Senate Bill 300, the Expanded Options Bill. This legislation opened doors for high school students to earn college credit, reflecting her deep belief in the power of education . She also successfully pushed the state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Furthermore, she collaborated with community leaders to bring Harriet Tubman Middle School to her Portland neighborhood .
From North Williams Avenue to the Senate Floor
Born in Portland on February 13, 1947, Gordly’s life was deeply rooted in the city’s historic Albina district . She was delivered at Emanuel Hospital by Dr. DeNorval Unthank, one of Oregon’s first Black doctors . She grew up on North Williams Avenue, a vibrant hub for the Black community at the time. Her father was a Union Pacific Pullman porter, and her mother was active in championing women’s rights .
Gordly graduated from Girls Polytechnic High School in 1965 and worked for Pacific Northwest Bell . However, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 profoundly affected her. Sensing a disconnect with her white colleagues, she quit her job and enrolled at Portland State University (PSU) . In 1974, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating with a degree in the administration of justice . The day after graduation, she began working for the Oregon Corrections Division as a counselor and parole officer .
A Mentor and Advocate for Mental Health
Perhaps one of Gordly’s most personal and enduring legacies is her advocacy for mental health reform. She was open about her own struggles with depression, which she detailed in her 2011 memoir, Remembering the Power of Words . Her son, Ty Waters, also faced mental health challenges, making this cause deeply personal. “Mom was a champion and pioneer in the Legislature for mental illness advocacy,” Waters said. “She wanted me to live, be happy and not live as a victim” .
In 2008, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) honored her work by naming its behavioral health unit the Avel Gordly Center for Healing . The center provides culturally specific mental health services, embodying Gordly’s belief that care must be both compassionate and inclusive .
Gordly’s mentorship created a powerful ripple effect. U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, another trailblazing Black politician from Oregon, called Gordly a “mentor and a true friend.” Bynum recalled the bittersweet moment of welcoming Gordly back to the Capitol. “I knew I was standing on the shoulders of a giant,” Bynum wrote. “Sadly, her tenure as an elected Black Oregonian was so rare that many in the chamber thought she was a relative rather than the esteemed public servant” . Lakeitha Elliott, another mentee and executive director of the Gordly-Burch Center, described her as both “a mother and a mentor” who took immense pride in her “community daughters” .
Continuing the Legacy in Education
After retiring from the Senate in 2009, Gordly returned to her alma mater. She became an associate professor in the Black Studies Department at Portland State University, shaping young minds just as she had shaped public policy . Her colleague, Professor Darrell Millner, described her as “a lighthouse for everyone else to observe and follow” . In 2017, PSU awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters for her lifetime of contributions .
Her name and spirit are permanently etched into Portland’s landscape. Her childhood home on North Williams Avenue now houses the Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement . This center, along with the OHSU healing center and a Head Start building, ensure her work continues.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, who served with her, noted her “moral clarity that was rare” and said, “she spent her life doing: healing what was broken, lifting up what had been pushed down and building something better in its place” . Gov. Tina Kotek called her a “powerful presence for justice” .
Avel Gordly’s niece, Michelle Burch, perhaps summed up her aunt’s legacy best: “She is an inspiration to the next generation of social justice warriors” .
