[1] She was first elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1972 and was at the time of her death the longest serving member of the House.
She grew up in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of South Memphis and graduated from Hamilton High School.
With support from U.S. Representative Harold Ford, Sr., she defeated the four male candidates, and took office in the 88th Tennessee General Assembly that was convened in 1973.
Lois DeBerry co-sponsored a bill in May 2005 that would have required parents to volunteer in schools for at least 12 hours per year.
[9] In May 1999, she proposed a bill that restricted credit card companies from soliciting on college and university campuses.
[11] DeBerry accepted $200 from an undercover FBI agent posing as a businessman during Operation Tennessee Waltz, while celebrating a birthday with fellow Representative Kathryn I. Bowers in 2004.