Senator Reed joined Governor Gina Raimondo, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin in honoring the late Melvoid Benson at a ceremony renaming the U.S. Post Office at 7715 Post Road in North Kingstown in her honor. A teacher, community leader, and former State Representative, the Honorable Melvoid J. Benson (Estes) was the first black woman to be elected to the Rhode Island legislature from the Second Congressional District. She served seven terms as a State Representative from 1990 to 2004. The Melvoid J. Benson Post Office Building will be the first post office in Rhode Island history to be named in honor of an African-American.
