NEW JERSEY – Sheila Oliver, who was the first Black woman to be Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and the second lieutenant governor in New Jersey history, has died at age 71.
The news comes after Oliver was reported to be in the hospital Monday for an undisclosed medical issue.
She was filling in as acting governor while Gov. Phil Murphy was out of the state on a family vacation in Italy.
“It is with incredible sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey. She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero,” the Oliver family said in a statement released by Gov. Phil Murphy.
“Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community.”
Oliver was a part of the Assembly for 16 years and was only the second Black woman to lead any state legislature.
“Tammy and I, and our children, are incredibly saddened and distraught to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and partner in government, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver,” Murphy said in a statement.
“When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She had already made history as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, and just the second Black woman in the nation’s history to lead a house of a state legislature. I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the State of New Jersey. It was the best decision I ever made,” Murphy said.
“She brought a unique and invaluable perspective to our public policy discourse and served as an inspiration to millions of women and girls everywhere, especially young women of color,” Murphy added.
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