Dr. Alice White Bussey, a native of Ellenwood, GA, the first Black woman to lead the Atlanta Business League passed on March 2nd at the age of 77. Her life included many firsts including the creation of the annual Super Tuesday Women’s conference. In 2022 in celebration of the Atlanta Business Leaque’s 90th anniversary I interviewed Dr. Bussey at the StoryCorps studio in Atlanta.
White shares that she grew up in a small all Black community in DeKalb County, called County Line. Everyone had expertise from cleaning to tax preparation. This entrepreneurial spirit was part of Dr. Bussey’s DNA. She was the first in her family to attend college and she left home for California. Additionally she worked for the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics while obtaining her undergraduate and graduate degrees.
She met her husband, a Morehouse man, at a gospel music concert in California after catering an event he hosted. James L. Bussey shared her work ethic, love of travel and entrepreneurship. After obtaining her graduate degree she returned to Atlanta and turned her attention to Bussey Florist, eventually becoming the first African-American owned FTD designated florist in the USA. With her knowledge from working with the Department of Labor, White began to bring federal funding to our community in support of business owners.
Dr. White learned of the Atlanta Business League and began to work with the organization where she was selected to be the first woman President. Under her leadership the Super Tuesday Women’s Conference was established. Her desire to assist women entrepreneurs is a legacy that will continue for decades to come.
For more information on Dr. Alice White Bussey
Dr. Alice White Bussey Obituary