Alice Bussey
Prominent floral business owner Alice Mae White Bussey was born on July 31, 1947, in South DeKalb County, Georgia, the tenth of twelve children to Oscar Curtis White, Sr., a carpenter, and Eula Belle Shepard White, a homemaker. After graduating from high school, Bussey completed her B.A. degree in sociology at Los Angeles City College. Later, she completed her second B.A. degree in urban studies at Windsor College and her M.A. degree in public administration from Los Angeles City College.
A lifelong member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Bussey’s ancestors were among the founders of the church more than 135 years ago.
After completing undergraduate and graduate school in California and working concurrently for the United States Department of Labor, Bussey returned to Georgia to serve as the first Labor Department federal representative of the state. In that capacity, she managed millions of dollars, conducted investigations and developed programs for the elderly, welfare clients, and high school dropouts. Bussey was also the Federal Women's Program manager for the eight state, Southeastern Region. In 1985, Bussey became the first woman elected as president of the Atlanta Business League.
After her marriage to florist James Bussey, she began her career in the floral industry. Soon, she became the first African American FTD florist in Atlanta. Having helped create over twenty new businesses, Bussey is internationally known in the industry for training small business owners. Over a thirty-year period, Bussey’s florist has grown from a local retail operation to one that does business internationally. The Busseys have traveled extensively, developing business markets throughout the USA, Europe, and Africa. They were members of former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young’s historic trade mission to Jamaica, Trinadad and Tabago, and Barbados.
Bussey serves on the board of The International Florists Association (IFA), Georgia Council of Visitors, Atlanta Private Industry Council, and many others. She and her husband are the parents of three adult children and one grandchild. They reside in Decatur, Georgia.
A2006.028
Female
2/20/2006
Bussey
Hamilton High School
Los Angeles City College
Alice
Ellenwood
BUS02
None
Georgia
Africa
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.

Georgia
7/31/1947
Atlanta
United States
Shrimp
Retail entrepreneur and florist Alice Bussey (1947 - ) is an internationally known floral business owner. The first African American FTD florist in Atlanta, she serves on the board of The International Florists Association.
U.S. Department of Labor
Bussey's Florist and Gifts
Orange
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Alice Bussey's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey describes her mother
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey describes her family in Ellenwood, Georgia
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey describes her mother's side of the family, pt. 1
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey describes her mother's side of the family, pt. 2
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey describes her family reunions
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey describes her father
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Alice Bussey describes her father's family background
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey remembers her childhood in Ellenwood, Georgia
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey describes her family's values
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey describes her family history
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey describes the schools she attended
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey remembers her childhood activities
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey lists her siblings
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey describes Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church
Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Alice Bussey describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood
Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Alice Busse remembers the impact of her education
Tape: 2 Story: 11 - Alice Bussey describes her childhood aspiration to travel
Tape: 2 Story: 12 - Alice Bussey remembers attending Hamilton High School in Scottdale, Georgia
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Alice Bussey remembers the influence of Jennie Harlan and HistoryMaker Narvie Harris
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey remembers the curriculum at Hamilton High School
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey recalls the impact of her father's death
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey remembers President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's assassination and the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey describes her friendship with Coretta Scott King
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey reflects upon the Vietnam War and family values during the 1960s
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey recalls her college aspirations
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey describes her time in college
Tape: 3 Story: 9 - Alice Bussey remembers meeting her husband in California
Tape: 3 Story: 10 - Alice Bussey describes working for the U.S. Department of Labor
Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Alice Bussey describes her work in Georgia with the U.S. Department of Labor
Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey describes expanding Bussey's Florist and Gifts
Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey recalls educating the public on the floral business
Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey describes Bussey's Florist and Gifts receiving the FTD designation
Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey describes the importance of diversifying floral services
Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey talks about professional societies for florists
Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey describes the state of the floral service
Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey describes the goals of Bussey's Florist and Gifts
Tape: 4 Story: 9 - Alice Bussey recalls her civic organizations
Tape: 5 Story: 1 - Alice Bussey describe her role with the Concerned Black Clergy
Tape: 5 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey remembers her term as president of the Atlanta Business League
Tape: 5 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey recalls a black trade mission with HistoryMaker Andrew Young
Tape: 5 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey describes working with Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America
Tape: 5 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey describes her work with the National Florist Association
Tape: 5 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey describes her husband and children
Tape: 5 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey talks about the importance of her community
Tape: 5 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey describes the importance of Bussey's Florist and Gifts
Tape: 5 Story: 9 - Alice Bussey reflects upon her life, pt. 1
Tape: 5 Story: 10 - Alice Bussey reflects upon her career
Tape: 5 Story: 11 - Alice Bussey shares her hopes for the future
Tape: 5 Story: 12 - Alice Bussey reflects upon her life, pt. 2
Tape: 6 Story: 1 - Alice Bussey describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community
Tape: 6 Story: 2 - Alice Bussey reflects upon the value of education
Tape: 6 Story: 3 - Alice Bussey reflects upon the value of religion
Tape: 6 Story: 4 - Alice Bussey describes the importance of the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 6 Story: 5 - Alice Bussey talks about her life and values
Tape: 6 Story: 6 - Alice Bussey describes how she would like to be remembered
Tape: 6 Story: 7 - Alice Bussey shares lessons of her life
Tape: 6 Story: 8 - Alice Bussey talks about her family
Tape: 6 Story: 9 - Alice Bussey reflects upon her legacy
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