Gov. Phil Murphy and the Rev. Al Sharpton will both give eulogies at the memorial service for New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023.The state funeral and memorial service for New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.Long lines of mourners paid respect to the trailblazing elected leader during the two days that her body laid in state. A gold hearse with the state seal on its door carried her flag-draped coffin to the rotunda at the state capitol on Thursday.
In the private viewing for dignitaries and family in Trenton on Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy greeted hundreds of guests as they entered the rotunda where Oliver’s casket had been placed. A large painting and photograph of Oliver were displayed alongside her coffin, as it was visited by state and local officials, and by members of Congress.
Members of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus — many of whom were close friends of Oliver’s — brought roses to her casket and hugged her family members, who were seated nearby. Oliver was the first Black woman to be elected to statewide office and to become speaker of the Assembly. She was an advocate for social justice who had a reputation for defying party bosses. Murphy described selecting her as his running mate as “the best decision I ever made.”
Oliver was born and raised in Newark and ascended the ranks of political office after first being elected to the East Orange School District's Board of Education in 1994. She was a member of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1996 to 1999 and was first elected to the Assembly in 2004.Oliver was New Jersey’s second lieutenant governor, after the position was added to the state’s constitution via a ballot referendum in 2005.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver to lie in state in NewarkThe trailblazing lawmaker died last week after she was admitted to the hospital with an undisclosed medical issue.
Read more »
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver lies in state at Essex County Courthouse in NewarkNew Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver was taken to the historic Essex County Courthouse in Newark on Friday to lie in state. csloantv reports.
Read more »
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver to lie in state at capitol rotunda in TrentonLate New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will lie in state at the capitol rotunda today, as her three-day celebration of life begins. johnbdias is live in Trenton with more on her memory.
Read more »
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver lies in state at capitol rotunda in TrentonUPDATE: Thursday marks the start of a three-day celebration of late New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver's life. Oliver, who died last week at age 71, lies in state inside the capitol rotunda. John Dias reports.
Read more »
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver lies in state in the capitol rotundaA host of lawmakers and numerous mourners poured into the statehouse rotunda Thursday to mourn the late Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, whose casket lay in state just over a week since she died after a hospital stay for an undisclosed medical issue.
Read more »
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver lies in state in TrentonThe trailblazing lawmaker died last week after she was admitted to the hospital with an undisclosed medical issue.
Read more »