“She did it: 'The Civil Rights Museum in Florida remembers Senator Geraldine Thompson

Tallahassee, Fla. (WCTV) – The unexpected loss of Senator of Florida, Geraldine Thompson, was difficult for many to understand.

The longstanding legislator from Central Florida spent decades as an educator, administrator and historian. She died on February 13th after the knee operation through complications. She was 76 years old.

For Delatre Hollinger and Jacqueline Perkins, Thompson's death left them “unbelief”. The two are Executive Directors of the Florida Civil Rights Museum, Inc. based in Tallahassee.

“She only had an obligation to help people and she didn't play,” said Hollinger.

He met Thompson for the first time when he was Capitol as students in the state capital.

“Very smart, very determined and she wanted to make sure that she was clear in everything,” he recalled. “Before she accepted a vote, she wanted to make sure that she had spoken to everyone she had to speak to.”

Hollinger would do an intern for Thompson, who shared his love for the preservation of local history. One of the most remarkable achievements of Thompson was the establishment of the built Museum of African -American history and culture by Wells in Orlando.

Perkins met Thompson three years ago when she worked with Hollinger to start a virtual museum that celebrated civil rights throughout the state.

“When she campaigned to do something, she did it,” said Perkins. “I immediately connected to her because I have a similar personality.”

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According to Perkins, one of Thompson's last legislative laws in 2024 was to secure the financing for the Florida Civil Rights Museum. She hopes that Thompson's love for history will help keep her inheritance alive.

“Knowing that there are so many lessons that people have learned from her, including us. We know that her spirit will always be there even though she is not here in the meat, ”she said.

A public visit was set for Thursday afternoon in Orlando with a home service the next day.

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