Anne Gregory Rhodes (July 30, 1942– October 5, 2023) was a civic activist and Republican politician who for a decade represented parts of Richmond, Virginia and surrounding Henrico County in the Virginia House of Delegates, until redistricting by fellow Republicans caused her retirement in 2001.
[5][6][7] Meanwhile, in addition to raising their children, Rhodes became a civic activist in Richmond, working on behalf of Virginia Commonwealth University, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Girl Scouts, YMCA, American Red Cross and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church,[8][9] among other organizations.
[1] Named the "outstanding woman of Richmond" in 1990,[2] after redistricting following the 1990 federal census, Rhodes declared herself as a Republican and candidate for the redrawn 68th district seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.
She defeated real estate developers and former delegates E. Hatcher Crenshaw[10] and Ed Eck,[11] and was re-elected four times (after later redistricting the district now encompasses areas to the east in Tidewater Virginia).
[2] The Virginia Interfaith Council named Rhodes legislator of the year in 1998, and in 1999 the Virginia PTA named her Child Advocate of the year, which enabled her to win the 1999 Republican primary despite Republican governor Jim Gilmore, Attorney General Mark Earley and Congressman Tom Bliley all endorsing her opponent.