Ernestine Bazemore

Bazemore served as an educator.^[3] In 2014, Bazemore was first elected to the Bertie County Commissioner. She served as vice chair of the commission from 2016 to 2017, and as chair in 2018.^[2] On November 3, 2020, Bazemore won a close election against Republican nominee Thomas Hester Jr. for the North Carolina Senate seat represented the 3rd district.^[4] She won 52% of the vote. She assumed office on January 1, 2021.^[5] In early January 2021, Bazemore was appointed to three legislative committees: the State and Local Government committee, the Appropriations on General Government Committee, and the Pensions Committee.^[6]

Bazemore was defeated in the Democratic primary for re-election in 2022.^[5]

Bazemore lived in Windsor, North Carolina.^[4] She had three children.^[2]

Bazemore died October 9, 2025, at the age of 66.^[7][1]