Sheila Oliver led a groundbreaking political career as a Garden State legislator, including being the first Black woman to serve as speaker for the General Assembly and the first Black woman elected as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor.
- Died: August 1, 2023 (Who else died on August 1?)
- Details of death: Died in Trenton, New Jersey, of an undisclosed illness at the age of 71.
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Sheila Oliver’s legacy
Oliver was born in Newark, New Jersey, and devoted much of her life to serving her state. She received her master’s in social work from Columbia University, then went on to a career in education, teaching at Essex County College and Caldwell University, and serving on the East Orange School District Board of Education. She was also the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., a nonprofit group devoted to providing social services to those in need.
In 1996, she took her first major step toward a career as a public official when she was elected to the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. After a few unsuccessful local races, she ascended to the New Jersey State Assembly in the 2003 election. She would serve in that capacity until 2018, including four years as Speaker of the Assembly, the first Black woman in the state to hold the position.
In 2018, Oliver assumed the role of lieutenant governor of New Jersey, after running and winning with Gov. Phil Murphy. This made her the first woman of color elected to statewide office in the Garden State. In 2021, she ran for and won reelection, again alongside Murphy. At the time of her death, she was serving as interim governor while Murphy was out of the country.
Tributes to Sheila Oliver
Full obituary: The New York Times
