TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a state so regularly bitterly divided alongside partisan traces, Democrats and Republicans alike had been moved to tears as they accrued in Florida’s capitol on Thursday to honor the lifestyles and legacy of Democratic state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, an established legislator, civil rights legend and educator who died on Feb. 13 on the age of 76, following headaches from knee-replacement surgical procedure.
Thompson’s husband and members of the family sat at her table at the Senate flooring, which used to be decorated with a bouquet of white roses and a black material, as her colleagues prayed, sang and shared their remembrances.
A champion of balloting rights and Black historical past, Thompson’s tenure within the capitol started as a staffer for the primary Black lady elected to the Florida Legislature, Gwen Cherry, ahead of Thompson went directly to her personal phrases of carrier within the Area and Senate, the place she represented central Florida for greater than 15 years.
She went toe-to-toe with Republican leaders to oppose what she noticed as unconstitutional gerrymandering of balloting districts and to shield the state’s Black historical past, at a time when Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has labored to limit how the darkest chapters of the state’s tale can also be informed in Florida study rooms.
Talking at Thursday’s memorial carrier, Democratic state Sen. Darryl Rouson mentioned Thompson “epitomized Black historical past.”
“I’m reminded of the African proverb that claims, ‘when an elder dies, a library is burned to the bottom.’ We’ve misplaced one in every of our premier and prestigious libraries with the passing of Senator Thompson,” Rouson mentioned.
In a condolence letter written to Thompson’s circle of relatives and browse via Democratic state Sen. Tracie Davis, former President Barack Obama known as Thompson “a fashion of the most productive roughly public carrier” whose “trailblazing legacy” will continue to exist during the many lives she touched.
Democratic state Sen. Rosalind Osgood first noticed the past due lawmaker in motion within the capitol again in 2000, lengthy ahead of Osgood herself used to be elected to the legislature. For Osgood, Thompson used to be working example that Black ladies belong within the state’s halls of energy.
“Simply seeing those Black ladies legislate,” Osgood mentioned, “it used to be spell binding.”
A loved chief of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus, Thompson is remembered because the sense of right and wrong of the Florida Senate and a “dwelling historical past lesson,” any person who used to be deeply revered via her fellow lawmakers and the uncommon determine who may command her colleagues’ complete consideration when she took to her toes to talk at the chamber flooring.
“You realize that while you’re debating, everyone will not be listening,” Republican state Sen. Ed Hooper mentioned, “apart from when Geraldine spoke.”
A public college trainer, neighborhood school administrator and historian, Thompson additionally based the Wells’Constructed Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition in Orlando and served as chair of the duty power charged with development a state museum of African American historical past.
She used to be identified for donning the costumes of Black trailblazers in Florida historical past and giving portrayals of them at the Senate flooring that her colleagues known as “spell binding.”
Talking at Thursday’s memorial carrier, Republican state Sen. Don Gaetz recalled racing out of a gathering with the then-Area speaker to witness Thompson bringing to lifestyles the tale of pioneering Black feminine aviator Bessie Coleman.
“I did not know the tale. I did not understand it till she informed it within the first individual,” Gaetz mentioned. “And I will be able to inform you that I assumed that Geraldine Thompson may fly. And I nonetheless do.”
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Related Press/Record for The united states Statehouse Information Initiative. Record for The united states is a nonprofit nationwide carrier program that puts reporters in native newsrooms to file on undercovered problems.
