01 August 2023 , 17:00
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History-making New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver died suddenly today, her family and Governor Phil Murphy revealed in an announcement.
The 71-year-old made history as the first Black woman to be Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.
She was the second Black woman ever to lead any state legislature.
"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 Oliver family said in a statement. "She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero."
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver has had a long and accomplished career before her untimely death at age 71 (Getty Images)Oliver was filling in as acting governor of New Jersey while Governor Phil Murphy was out of the country. Now, Democratic Senate President Nicholas Scutari is set to take over her office as Deputy and has been in this role since Oliver was taken to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and deemed unable to perform her duties.
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Governor Phil Murphy made a heartfelt statement about his cohort: "When I selected her to be my running mate in 2017, Lt. Gov. Oliver was already a trailblazer in every sense of the word. 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."
New Jersey Lt. Gov.-elect Sheila Oliver was the first Black woman to be Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and is being remembered by friends and colleagues today (Getty Images)The Oliver family said in a statement that Oliver was "not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend and hero."
"Sheila Y Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration," the family statement said. "We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community.".
Her dedication to her job and community was evident. Oliver was posting on Instagram until five days ago, and her last post advertised a health insurance fair for struggling individuals. Another post explained she was working on transforming a historic building into a community space.
Governor Murphy also made a personal statement in a Tweet - "Tammy and I, and our children, are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, colleague, and partner in government.. We ask that you all keep the Oliver family and all those who loved her in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Speaking to that, Oliver had an accomplished career. After serving as the state's second lieutenant governor in 2018, she went on to head the Department of Community Affairs, which provides state aid to cities and towns in need.
Sheila Oliver was working on a variety of campaigns for NJ citizens until she was hospitalized yesterday, according to social media (LightRocket via Getty Images)Oliver was known as a gifted public speaker and a favourite of her constituents. Governor Murphy often introduced her as his "rocking" lieutenant governor - as she had the necessary charisma to excite voters.
The leader described herself as a 'Jersey girl' and she was proud of being a local and a native. Her website states that, "under her leadership, the Department has ... expanded and leveraged a wide range of initiatives aimed at assisting distressed municipalities, including the federal Opportunity Zones tax incentive, the Main Street New Jersey program, the Neighborhood Preservation Program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program, and the Urban Enterprise Zone Program, which was renewed by legislation she signed in 2021."
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New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver is known as a marvelous public speaker that was able to communicate with the voters, shows her records (AP)It adds: "In her role as Acting Governor, she has signed multiple bills into law, including those that established a Caregiver Task Force to identify ways to support people taking care of loved ones who are elderly or disabled, require all public school students in grades 6-8 to receive financial literacy education, strengthen equal pay for equal work by preventing employers from asking employees’ previous salary history, and protect employees from wage theft.
"She also signed into law legislation that established a Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program within the Juvenile Justice Commission to help divert youth from entering and re-entering the juvenile justice system."