Marlene E. Johnson-Odom graduated from North Division High School, attended Milwaukee
Area Technical College (1975-1976) and then the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
where she earned a B.A. in 1979 in Community Education. Before serving as an
alderwoman she taught etiquette at Milwaukee Public Schools and hosted a local
television show. She was elected to the 6th district in 1980 and during her time in
office she was on the Finance & Personnel Committee, Chairwoman of MATC Board of
Trustees, member of the Housing Authority, Redevelopment Authority of Milwaukee and
National League of Cities. She successfully worked toward changing N. 3rd street to
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in honor of the civil rights leader. Johnson-Odom
lost her bid for re-election in 2004 to Michael McGee, Jr.
Johnson-Odom served on the Common Council from 1980-2004. She passed away in 2017 as
the longest serving alderwoman on Milwaukee’s Common Council as well as the longest
serving African American. Her first husband, Ben Johnson, was the former Milwaukee
6th District Alderman (1971-1980) and Common Council President. She remarried John
D. Odom in 1994.
