The public was invited to pay final respects to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver during a three-day celebration that culminated on Saturday with a memorial service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Oliver was remembered as a trailblazer and a champion of her community.
At the memorial service, Gov Phil Murphy said, “One of the great tragedies of Sheila’s loss is that our work together was far from finished. She and I were elected and then reelected to finish this job together and it breaks my heart to know that’s no longer possible. So, New Jersey I need you. We need you — to finish the job together. I need you to stand up and honor Sheila’s legacy by joining together and fighting as one New Jersey family.”
Oliver was eulogized by Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network. He told the congregation that “Sheila never had amnesia. Sheila never forgot why she was in the room. Sheila never forgot those that weren’t in the room … when she was in the room, we were in the room.”
“Even though she always looked reserved and refined, she kept a slingshot in her purse in case she ran into Goliath,” said Mayor of Newark Ras Baraka. “We thank you for walking in halls we were only meant to sweep, for pulling up a chair at tables they only had us waiting on, for interjecting your voice in conversations that were about us but not for us.”
Gov. Phil Murphy must now choose a successor to Oliver, who died suddenly on Aug. 1 at the age of 71. According to the state Constitution, Murphy has about a month left to do so. Advocacy groups have called for the appointment of another Black woman.
