A Northwest Louisiana business and civic leader and political activist had died a week shy of her 92nd birthday.

Former state Sen. Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee passed away Monday in Shreveport after a lengthy illness. Ms. Shehee headed the family businesses, Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Rose-Neath Funeral Home after her mother's death. She was also elected as state senator for Caddo and DeSoto parishes from 1976 to 1980, becoming Louisiana’s first female state senator.

She was also a big supporter of The Strand Theater, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and Louisiana State Fair. She also served on a number of boards of directors and was a philanthropist.

Visitation for Ms. Shehee will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 275 Southfield Road, Shreveport.

Photo compliments of the Shreveport Times