Florida state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, a longtime advocate for education, healthcare, and civil rights, has died at the age of 76.
She died due to complications from knee replacement surgery, her family announced Thursday.
A Legacy of Public Service
Thompson, a Democrat representing the Orlando area, had a distinguished career in the Florida Legislature spanning nearly two decades.
She first served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2012 before winning a seat in the Florida Senate from 2012 to 2016. After another term in the Florida House (2018-2022), she returned to the Senate in 2022.
Throughout her tenure, Thompson championed policies focused on education, civil rights, and healthcare. She played a pivotal role in preserving Black history in Florida, founding the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, a landmark dedicated to documenting the region’s rich African American heritage.
Commitment to Education and Policy
As vice chair of the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education, Thompson worked to expand educational opportunities for underserved communities.
She also served on multiple influential committees, including Education Postsecondary, Education Pre-K-12, Fiscal Policy, Judiciary, Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security, and Rules.
Family Statement and Community Impact
In a statement, Thompson’s family highlighted her unwavering commitment to improving lives, particularly through education and civil rights.
“Her tireless work in education, healthcare, and civil rights, including her leadership to establish the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, reflected her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations,” the statement read.
Her passing marks a significant loss for Florida politics, particularly for those who admired her dedication to equity and justice.
