ORLANDO, Fla. – Dr. LaVon W. Bracy, a community leader and author, first met State Sen. Geraldine Thompson in 1969 when they became college roommates. Their friendship, which began when they were both 20 years old, lasted a lifetime.

“It’s difficult, it’s very difficult,” Dr. Bracy shared Friday, reflecting on the loss of her dear friend. “I spoke with Geraldine all through her sickness while she was able to speak. And I was there when she had her last breath yesterday.”

Thompson’s family announced her death Thursday at age 76, from complications caused by knee replacement surgery.

Dr. Bracy’s daughter, State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, also shared a close bond with Thompson.

“She was my mentor, not just from a family perspective, but also a political and legislative perspective,” Davis said. “The seat that I sit in she used to have years ago and all of my House district sits in her Senate district so we did so many things together, town hall meetings and legislative updates.”

Thompson served in the Florida Senate from the 15th district. Both Dr. Bracy and her daughter emphasized Thompson’s significant contributions to preserving African American history, particularly through her work with the Wells’ Built Museum.

“She has put in many hours in making sure that our history is not forgotten,” Dr. Bracy noted.

The Wells’ Built Museum holds many special touches from the late Thompson, including the “Treading our Path” exhibit, which is based on her research as the founder of the Association to Preserve African American Society, History, and Tradition.

“We have tremendous resources in the state of Florida for African American history,” Thompson once said. As chair of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force, she hoped to see the first-of-its-kind museum built in Eatonville.

During a 2023 Senate session, Thompson championed legislation to increase attraction safety standards in Florida, named after Tyre Sampson, a teen who died on a ride on International Drive in 2022. The bill was eventually signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“That flame can’t go out. We have to pick up that torch and continue to carry on her good work,” Davis said.

Dr. Bracy echoed this sentiment, stating, “We must make sure that her legacy lives on.”

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