The legislators in Florida honor the “perceptive legacy” of the late senator Geraldine Thompson

Tallahassee, Fla. – Democrats and Republicans were moved to tears in Florida's Capitol on Thursday in a state that was shared by bitterly shared, the life and legacy of the Senator of the Democratic State, Geraldine Thompson, a long -time legislature, the civil rights legend and an educator who died on February 76 after 76 years after 76 died.

Thompson's husband and family members sat at her desk on the Senate floor, which was decorated with a bouquet with white roses and a black cloth when her colleagues prayed, sang and shared her memories.

Thompson's term in Capitol as an employee for the first black woman who started in Florida legislation, Gwen Cherry, before Thompson represented her own services in the house and in the Senate in Central Florida.

She went with Republican leaders of Toe-to-toe to oppose what she saw as an unconstitutional geryma handing of electoral districts, and to defend the black history of the state at a time when the Republican governor Ron Desantis worked on how the darkest chapters in the history of the state in Florida classes can be told.

The democratic state of Senator Darryl Rouson on Thursday said on Thursday that Thompson “embodied the black history”.

“I am reminded of the African proverb, which says:” When an oldest dies, a library is burned on the ground. “We have lost one of our leading and respected libraries with the death of Senator Thompson,” said Rouson.

In a condolences to Thompson's family and read by the democratic state of Senator Tracie Davis, former President Barack Obama Thompson called the “model of the best kind of public service”, whose “related heritage” will live through the many lives she has touched.

The Democratic State Senator Rosalind Osgood saw the late legislator for the first time in Capitol in 2000, long before Osgood was elected to the legislator. For OSGOOD, Thompson was a living proof that black women belong to the state halls of the state.

“Only to see these black women by law,” said Osgood, “it was fascinating.”

Thompson is a beloved leader of the legislative black caucus of the state and will be remembered as a conscience of the Senate in Florida and as a “living history hour”, someone who was deeply respected by her co -legislators and the rare figure, who was able to get the full attention of her colleagues, when she made up on the chamber soil.

“You know that everyone may not listen to the debates,” said Republican Senator Ed Hooper, “except that Geraldine spoke.”

Thompson, a teacher of public school teachers, community college administrator and historian, also founded the Wells'Built Museum of African -American history and culture in Orlando and served as chairman of the task force, which was charged with the construction of a state museum for African -American history.

She was known for drawing the costumes of Schwarzer Wegerlaser in the history of Florida and presenting that her colleagues called “fascinating”.

In the memorial service on Thursday, the Republican Senator Don Gaetz, Don Gaetz, remembered a meeting with House's spokesman at the time to testify to Thompson, who brought the history of the black aviator Bessie Coleman to live.

“I didn't know the story. I didn't know until she told it in the first person, “said Gaetz.” And I can tell you that I believed that Geraldine Thompson could fly. And I'm still doing it. “

___ Kate Payne is a member of the Corps for the “Associated Press/Report” initiative for America Statehouse News. The report for America is a non -profit National Service program that reports journalists in local news editorial offices on hidden topics.