Senate Democratic Leader Kirt comments on passing of Sen. Bernice Shedrick

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt issued the following statement honoring Bernice Shedrick, a Democrat from Stillwater, who served in the Senate from 1980 to 1996. She was 85 when she passed on Jan. 20, 2026.

“Bernice Shedrick was an accomplished woman who began her career as an educator, then later became an attorney and state senator for District 21. When she was first elected to the Senate, she was the only woman serving in the chamber, but she rose through the ranks, becoming chair of the Education Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and the Judiciary Committee.

“Senator Shedrick was a strong advocate for education, and was principal Senate author of House Bill 1017, the landmark education funding and reform bill, as well as the legislation creating the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics – the OSSM library is named in her honor. We are grateful for her service to her district and to the state. Our thoughts are with her family as they mourn the loss of their beloved mother and grandmother.” – Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.