BLACKBURN, Marsha, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Laurel, Jones County, Miss., June 6, 1952; graduated from Northeast Jones High School, Laurel, Miss.; B.S. Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss., 1973; business owner; private advocate; unsuccessful candidate for election to the One Hundred Third Congress in 1992; member of the Tennessee state senate, 1998-2002; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Eighth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2003-present).