Rep. Esther Haywood, a Democrat, represents part of St. Louis County (District 71) in the Missouri House of Representatives.
In addition to her legislative duties, Rep. Haywood is a retired elementary school teacher. She taught math in East St. Louis, Ill. for 30 years. Prior to that she taught 4th grade in Marion, Ark., and in the Memphis Shelby County school district. She was also secretary to the Board of Education for 18 years and currently serves on the Normandy School Board of Directors.
A community leader for over 20 years, Rep. Haywood is a member of the Normandy Hospital Guild, charter member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and past president of the St. Louis County NAACP. She attends Murchinson Tabernacle C.M.E. Church.
Among the awards Rep. Haywood has received are: NAACP National Youth Work award, Missouri School Board award, and the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Unsung Heroine award. She was also presented a proclamation by the mayor of East St. Louis, Ill. for outstanding community service and received recognition from the University of Missouri-St. Louis for outstanding community service. In 2000, Rep. Haywood received the Missionary of the Year award from the C.M.E. Church.
A graduate of Barret's Chapel High School in Memphis, Tenn., Rep Haywood attended Lincoln University and received a bachelor of science degree from Mississippi Industrial. She also attended St. Louis University and did graduate studies at Memphis State University.
Born January 15, 1940 in Memphis, Tenn., Rep. Haywood lives in Normandy with her husband Edward Jay Haywood. They have two daughters: Angela Haywood Gaskin and Andreal Haywood Gray, and six grandchildren: Lyndon, Andreal Elise and Langston Montgomery Gray, and Christina, John Charles Edward III and Jay Thomas Gaskin.