As a woman of many firsts, it’s hard not to think about South Florida politics without mentioning the late congresswoman Carrie Meek.
“She always loved people and cared about people,” said Meek’s son Kendrick Meek, a former U.S. Representative.
Starting Sunday, the Meek family held the first of a number of public memorial events to celebrate her life and legacy after her death last month at 95.
A viewing happened Sunday from 1-5 p.m. at Booker T. Washington Senior High School (1200 NW 6th Avenue, Miami).
On Monday, a wake will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Miami Dade College’s William and Joan Lehman Theater (11380 NW 27th Avenue, Miami).
On Tuesday, a funeral service and celebration will begin at 11 a.m. at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens (21311 N.W. 34th Avenue, Miami Gardens). A live stream can be watched by clicking here.
The service will be preceded by a motorcade procession from about 9:10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. passing by:
- Range Funeral Home, 5727 Northwest 17th Avenue
- Miami Dade College- Carrie P Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center, 6300 NW 7th Avenue
- African Heritage Cultural Arts, 6161 NW 22nd Avenue
- Miami Dade College- North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Avenue
- Carrie P Meek/Westview K-8 Center, 2101 NW 127th Street
- Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Miami Gardens, 21311 NW 34th Avenue
An interment will follow the funeral service at Caballero Rivero Dade North Memorial Park, 1301 Opa-Locka Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to The Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc. 4000 NW 142nd St, Opa-locka, FL 33054. For more info: carriemeekfoundation.org
Meek’s love and care for people, as her son describes, was felt by many early in her life as a teacher and school administrator.
“She loved to have fun and she loved a good time and she was brilliant,” Kendrick Meek said.
After the age of 50, Meek made the unexpected switch to politics. She broke barriers as the first black female elected to the Florida Senate.
She also was among the first African-Americans from Florida to win a seat in Congress.
In 2003, due in part to health issues, Meek left Congress to make room for her son Kendrick.
“She always told me, ‘Kendrick to be a great leader, you have to be willing to do what you ask those to do that are willing to follow,’” Kendrick Meek said.
Her life of public service didn’t stop after leaving Washington, as she helped the poor and many others through her foundation.
“We as a family are just extremely proud of the example that she left with us here still in this community of how to live and how to serve,” Kendrick Meek said.