Entreprenuer, community advocate and Georgia House Representative, Lorenzo Benn, a native of Atlanta, was born September 11, 1934 to Lilla Merriweather and Legree Benn.

Benn received his B.A., B.S., L.L.B., and Doctor of Jurisprudence from Kerpel, and Long Island University of New York, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Iowa. State Representative Benn was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1980 and served until June 2, 1990. He served on several committees throughout the years: Banks and Banking, Interstate Cooperation, Rules, Secretary of the Special Judiciary, Human Relations and Aging, Public Safety, Chairman of the House of the Youth and Children Subcommittee. Benn also served as the Chairman of the Fulton County House Delegation from 1984-1990. Serving as a member of the Education Committee for four years Benn was an advocate for education and teachers.

Representative Benn’s Legislative interests were diverse. He sponsored many pieces of legislation including the Fair Housing Bill, Staggered tags, Registration, Towing, Emission inspection fees, Employee record checks for Daycare Centers, Election of Fulton County Board of Education, and Homestead exemptions for the Elderly and disabled. Over the years Representative Benn received many awards for outstanding service and dedication to the community and legislature. He was President of Lorenzo Benn Enterprises and President of L.B.J. Inc., Vice President of the Atlanta Branch of NAACP, President of Nu Beta Epsilon National Law Fraternity, Chairman of Forward Georgia Assembly, member of Georgia’s Mental Health Advisory Council, member of the Board of Exodus, and member of the Advisory Board of Street Academy.

Representative Lorenzo Benn died in office June 2, 1990. He was survived by two sons, Lawrence and Lorenzo Benn Jr.; one daughter, Marian Benn; two sisters, Grace Jenkins and Eloise Poldo, and two brothers, LeRoy and Norman Benn.