Background
She was born Maude Elizabeth Simpkins in Radford, Virginia.
She was born Maude Elizabeth Simpkins in Radford, Virginia.
She was the first woman elected to Congress from West Virginia. She was elected to six more terms and served from July 17, 1951 to January 3, 1965. While serving in Congress, she served on the House Government Operations, Interior and Insular Affairs, and Veterans Affairs Committees, chairing the latter"s Veterans" Hospitals Subcommittee.
She died in Bluefield, West Virginia.