Profile Text
Birth Name: George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr.
Place of Birth: Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 27, 1947
Ethnicity: * father – Bermudian [African, English] * mother – African-American, European
G. K. Butterfield is an American lawyer, politician, and lobbyist. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina, from July 20, 2004 to December 30, 2022, as well as, as an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, from February 5, 2001 to January 1, 2003, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, from January 3, 2015 to January 3, 2017, and House Democratic Senior Chief Deputy Whip, from January 3, 2021 to December 30, 2022.
G. K. is the son of Addie/Adele Lourine, an elementary school teacher, and Dr. G. K. Butterfield (George Kenneth Butterfield), a dentist. G. K. was raised in the segregated city of Wilson, North Carolina. His father was an emigrant from Bermuda, who was of African-Bermudian and English ancestry. His mother was of African-American and European ancestry. His father was considered the first black person elected to the city council in Wilson, and the first black elected official in eastern North Carolina since Reconstruction; he co-founded the Wilson Branch of the NAACP in order to register black voters in the county.
G. K. has three children, including two with his former wife, politician Jean Farmer-Butterfield. Jean is African-American. She was a Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. G. K. is a Baptist.
G. K.’s paternal grandfather was James Peter Gilbert Butterfield (the son of Wellington Nicolas Butterfield and Eliza Jane Swan). James was born on Pembroke, Bermuda. Wellington was the son of Richard Butterfield and Content Romans. Eliza was the daughter of Peter Swan and Latitia Litsey Gilbert.
G. K.’s paternal grandmother was Ann/Anne Harriett/Harriet Giles (the daughter of Joseph Giles and Mary Frances Hayward). Ann was born in England, and had some Bermuda-born ancestors. Joseph was the son of William Giles and Ann Phillips. Mary was the daughter of Richard Hayward and Letitia Smith.
G. K.’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Fred M. Davis (the son of Joe Davis and Judah/Judith). The Rev. Fred was born in North Carolina, and was a Baptist minister. He was said to have been the son of a white father and a black mother.
G. K.’s maternal grandmother was named Diana/Dinah/Diamond/Diannah Dawson/Dunston. Diana was born in North Carolina.
Sources: https://www.politico.com https://www.communityvoiceks.com
Family history of G. K. Butterfield – https://barton.libguides.com
Marriage record of G. K.’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org
G. K.’s parents on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org G. K.’s parents on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of G. K. Butterfield (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Death records of G. K.’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of G. K. Butterfield (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://web.archive.org