Kenneth Cooper Alexander became Norfolk, Virginia’s first African American mayor, a historic milestone for the Commonwealth city founded in 1682. Born in Norfolk on October 17, 1966, to David Alexander, a funeral director and business owner, and Ruby Rebecca Cooper, a college graduate, professional clarinetist, and athlete, Kenneth was reared by his grandparents, Ruby Rose Cooper, a church secretary, and James Victor Cooper, a grand master of a Masonic fraternity in the historic Berkley neighborhood.
A product of the Norfolk Public School System, Alexander graduated from Lake Taylor High School in 1985 where he was in the marching band and served as parliamentarian of the student body. Afterward, he studied Mortuary Science at Brightpoint Community College in Chester, Virginia, earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in 1987, and later took courses in political science and economics at Hampton University. From 1989 to 1990, Alexander worked with the City of Norfolk as a Cemetery Manager within the Department of Parks and Recreation.
On September 8, 1990, Alexander married Donna Burnley, a funeral director from Chesterfield, Virginia. They are the parents of Kenneth II, and David.
Alexander also received a Bachelor of Science in political science from Old Dominion University in 1990 and a Master of Arts in Diplomacy from Norwich University. He then taught International Relations at Tidewater Community College in Hampton Roads before becoming Chancellor of several career colleges, including the Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Centura College, and Tidewater Tech. In addition, he serves as the president of the family-owned Metropolitan Funeral Service, which operates at three locations in Norfolk and Portsmouth.
From 2002 to 2012, Alexander served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 89th District in Norfolk. During that time, he chaired the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and championed legislation to expand ballot access for young voters. This legislation allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turn 18 by the November general election. He also sponsored bills to improve education, healthcare, and public safety, demonstrating his commitment to serving the needs of his constituents.
In 2012, Alexander was elected in a special election to the Virginia Senate, representing the 5th Senate District where he succeeded Senator Yvonne Miller, who died while in office. He served in the Senate until 2016. That year he won 51.6% of the vote in a three-way race for Norfolk mayor against Andy A. Protogyrou (25.32%) and Robert J. McCabe (22.97%). Alexander became Norfolk’s first African American mayor and was re-elected in 2020 and again in 2024.
As mayor, Alexander has proposed legislation to improve mental health services, strengthen the foster care system, and require daycare centers to notify parents of injuries to their children.
While serving as mayor, Alexander earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Change from Antioch University in 2019. His dissertation examined the life and legacy of Evelyn T. Butts, Norfolk’s renowned voting rights champion, best known for her fight against the poll tax. This research was published by Orange Frazer Press in 2021 as Persistence: Evelyn Butts and the African American Quest for Full Citizenship and Self-Determination.
The Honorable Mayor Kenneth Cooper is also the author of Leadership Unlocked: Exploring the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, Theory, Practice, and Emerging Trends (2024) and Narratives: A Qualitative Researcher’s Guide (2025).
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Alyssa Ranker, “Candidate Profile: Kenneth Alexander (Norfolk Mayor),”https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/candidates/candidate-profile-kenneth-alexander-norfolk-mayor/;
“Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D.,”https://www.norfolk.gov/3515/Mayor-Kenneth-Cooper-Alexander-PhD;
“Part One: Norfolk’s Mayor – One Year Later After Big Victory,” https://thenewjournalandguide.com/norfolks-mayor-one-year-later-big-victory/.
