Mary E. Flowers is a prominent American politician and former Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives. Born on July 31, 1951, Flowers established a historic legacy in Illinois politics by becoming the longest-serving African-American legislator in the history of the state. Her extensive career in public office spanned four decades, during which she represented the interests of her constituents across different legislative districts.
Flowers' legislative career began on January 9, 1985, when she was first sworn in to represent the 31st district of Illinois. She held this position until January 13, 1993. Following legislative shifts, she transitioned to represent the 21st district starting on January 13, 1993, a role she maintained for a decade until January 8, 2003.
On January 8, 2003, Flowers returned to represent the 31st district. She continued her service in this capacity for over two additional decades, concluding her historic tenure on January 8, 2025. Throughout her long-standing service in the Illinois House of Representatives, Flowers remained a consistent figure in the state's legislative history.