Councilwoman Janis Fullilove was elected to the Memphis City Council in October 2007. Mrs. Fullilove graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, received a bachelor of arts degree from Memphis State University and earned a masters degree in Communication Studies from the University of Memphis. She taught communications for 14 years at the University of Memphis and served on the Memphis Charter Commission. Councilwoman Fullilove is chairman of the City's Education Committee and is vice-chair of the Memphis Light Gas and Water Committee. She serves as City liaison for MATA and the Memphis City Schools.
Councilwoman Fullilove is a well-known radio talk show host and television personality. Mrs. Fullilove was hired as the first African American news announcer at WREC and was the first African American to hold the news commentator position at WHBQ. In 1994 she became the first black talk show host at WMC radio and later she hosted her own show bearing her name. In 2002 she and co-commentator Mike Fleming earned an Emmy nomination for their work on ABC 24 and Channel 30.
Councilwoman Fullilove is the wife of Vernon Chalmers. She has two children Janeen Gordon-Batiste and Shamala Pace and two grandchildren Taylor and Jakobe'.