Avel Gordly, an American politician and activist in Oregon, died on February 16, 2026.
She was 79. Gordly was born in Portland on February 13, 1947, and became the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996, serving from 1997 to 2009.
She was also known as a community organizer and educator.
Avel Louise Gordly (February 13, 1947 – February 16, 2026) was an American activist, community organizer, and politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 1996, she became the first African-American woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate, serving from 1997 to 2009.