GONE TOO SOON
NEW Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver has died at age 71 after being hospitalized for an undisclosed medical issue.
Oliver, who had been filling in as acting governor of New Jersey while Governor Phil Murphy is out of the country, died on Tuesday, her family revealed.
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"It is with incredible sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey," the statement read.
"She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero.
"As we come to terms with this profound loss, we kindly request that you respect the privacy of the Oliver family during this difficult time as they grieve their beloved Sheila.
"Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration.
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"We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community."
Murphy mourned the death of Oliver, calling her a trailblazer.
"When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word," Murphy wrote in a statement.
"She had already made history as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, and just the second Black woman in the nation's history to lead a house of a state legislature.
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"I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the State of New Jersey. It was the best decision I ever made."
Oliver was rushed to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, on Monday, for an undisclosed reason.
Murphy’s spokesperson said in a statement that Oliver was receiving medical care but declined to elaborate on her condition.
Oliver, a Democrat, served as the state’s second lieutenant governor since 2018.
She concurrently served as the head of the Department of Community Affairs, which coordinates state aid to towns and cities and oversees code enforcement.
In 2010, she became the first African American woman to serve as speaker of the state assembly in the state’s history.