Alexis Herman

Alexis Margaret Herman, 77, of McLean, Virginia, passed away on April 25, 2025. A native of Mobile, Alabama, she was a dedicated public servant known for her advocacy in civil rights and worker protections. In 1997, she made history as the first African American to lead the U.S. Department of Labor under President Clinton. After graduating from Xavier University of Louisiana, she worked with Catholic Charities in Mississippi and was mentored by Dr. Dorothy Height, later becoming president of the Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation. President Jimmy Carter appointed her Director of the Women's Bureau at the age of 29. In 1984 and 1988, she managed Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns. Herman served as Chief of Staff for the Democratic National Convention and following the presidential win, she served as Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison in the Clinton Administration. She also held positions on several major corporate boards and was active in organizations like NCNW, the Links, the National Urban League and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Her husband, Dr. Charles Franklin, Jr., died in 2014. She is survived by her stepchildren, Charles J. Franklin, Michelle Franklin and Shari Smith; nephew Kirke (Teresa) Herman, Jr.; cousins, Bernard (Moncenya) Broadus, Robin Broadus Iwuoha, Lori Hendricks, and Darryl Hendricks; and more than twenty Godchildren, friends, mentees, and colleagues.
Funeral services will be held at Washington National Cathedral on May 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. with the burial in Mobile, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Heart of Mary School and Xavier University of Louisiana in Alexis M. Herman's name.