| Virginia "Ginny" Shaver is an American politician who has served as a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives for District 39 since November 7, 2018 . She represents all of Cherokee County, the city of Piedmont in Calhoun County, and portions of DeKalb and Cleburne counties . Shaver resides in Leesburg, Alabama, where she has been a community leader and activist for over three decades .
Before entering politics, Shaver built a distinguished career in municipal government spanning 17 years . She was employed by the City of Gadsden and served as Town Clerk of Leesburg, gaining extensive experience in local governance and public administration . Prior to her government service, she owned and operated Shaver Tax & Bookkeeping for nearly ten years, establishing herself as a small business owner in Cherokee County .
Shaver's educational background includes studies at Gadsden State Community College and Chattahoochee Valley Community College, where she majored in accounting and computer science . She continued her education at Jacksonville State University . She is also a certified municipal clerk, a professional qualification that enhanced her municipal government work .
Shaver's path to the Alabama legislature began in September 2017 when she announced her candidacy for House District 39, seeking to replace longtime Democratic incumbent Richard Lindsey . During her announcement at Leesburg Day, she described herself as a "lifelong conservative Republican" and emphasized her deep roots in the district, noting she was a fifth-generation Alabamian and had called District 39 home for 34 years . She won the 2018 general election and has been re-elected, most recently in November 2022 .
In the Alabama House of Representatives, Shaver has taken on significant leadership roles and committee assignments. She currently serves as Chair of the Children and Senior Advocacy Committee and Vice Chair of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee . She is also a member of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts . Her committee work reflects her focus on family issues, economic development, and government accountability.
One of Shaver's most notable legislative achievements has been her persistent advocacy for "born alive" abortion survivor protection legislation. She sponsored House Bill 237, known as "Gianna's Law" named after abortion survivor Gianna Jessen . After introducing versions of this anti-infanticide legislation in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the bill finally passed both chambers of the Alabama Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in 2021 . The legislation requires physicians to provide the same level of medical care to babies born alive after abortion attempts as they would to any other child .
Shaver has also been active in tax relief legislation. In 2025, she proposed an amendment to House Bill 152, which exempted certain essential items from state sales tax . Her amendment expanded the exemption from children's diapers to include adult diapers, providing additional relief to seniors . The amended bill passed unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Ivey, taking effect September 1, 2025 .
In recognition of her conservative legislative record, Shaver received a 100 percent conservative rating from the Alabama Policy Institute based on her voting history . Her work has earned endorsements from the Alabama Farmers Federation and the Business Council of Alabama . In 2025, Governor Kay Ivey selected Shaver to co-sponsor the Alabama K-12 Public School and State Employee Paid Parental Leave Act alongside Senator Vivian Figures .
Beyond her legislative duties, Shaver maintains extensive involvement in Republican politics and community organizations. She serves as a member of the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, Vice-Chair of the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee, and President of the Cherokee County Republican Women . She was appointed to the Cherokee County Industrial Development Board and previously worked with the Gadsden Airport Authority .
Shaver is married to Jeff Shaver, and they have been together for over 36 years . They are the parents of three adult children- Jake, Jennilee Baker, and Harry . The couple has two grandsons, Waylon and Forrest . The Shaver family are active members of Tates Chapel Baptist Church in Centre . Her husband Jeff serves as Sheriff of Cherokee County , creating a family deeply involved in public service.
Throughout her tenure, Shaver has sponsored various pieces of legislation addressing agriculture, taxation, and veterans' affairs . She has also been recognized for her community service work, including presenting a $1,000 Community Service Grant to the Cherokee County Jobs for Alabama's Graduates Program . Her current term ends on November 4, 2026 . |