We lost our Historian in the Celebrated Month of Black History...
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The Florida Legislative Black Caucus, and Florida has lost one of its most distinguished public servants, as State Senator Geraldine Thompson has passed away at the age of 76. Her family confirmed that she died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, following complications from knee replacement surgery.
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A trailblazer in politics, education, and civil rights, Thompson leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service and leadership. She was not only a respected legislator but also a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her unwavering dedication to her family and her community shaped the lives of countless individuals throughout the state.
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A Life of Service and Leadership
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Senator Thompson's contributions to Florida's political and cultural landscape were profound. Throughout her career, she championed education reform, healthcare access, and civil rights, ensuring that underserved communities had a voice in Tallahassee.
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One of her most notable achievements was the establishment of the Wells Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, a historic landmark that preserves the rich legacy of African Americans in Central Florida. Through her efforts, she helped document and share the stories of those who fought for equality, ensuring that their contributions would never be forgotten.
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Thompson served multiple terms in both the Florida House and Senate, where she was known for her fierce advocacy, thoughtful policymaking, and relentless commitment to justice. Her work extended beyond the legislature, she was a mentor, a teacher, and a champion for progress.
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A Lasting Legacy
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As Florida mourns her passing, tributes are pouring in from leaders across the state. Her family, while deeply grieving this tremendous loss, asks for privacy during this difficult time. In the coming days, they will announce details for funeral services to honor her remarkable life.
Her impact on Florida politics, education, and civil rights will continue to resonate for generations. Senator Geraldine Thompsons' legacy is one of strength, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to making the world a better place.
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The Florida Legislative Black Caucus extends its condolences to her family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside her. She will be deeply missed, but her work will live on.
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About Geraldine "Geri" Thompson
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Geraldine Fortenberry Thompson (November 18, 1948 – February 13, 2025) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party serving in various capacities in the Florida Legislature from 2006 to 2025.
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A veteran member of the Florida Legislature, she previously served as a member of the Florida State Senate from 2012 to 2016, representing parts of Orlando and western Orange County. She also served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives, from 2006 to 2012.
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She later returned as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 44th District from 2018 to 2022. The district included Windermere, Winter Garden, Gotha, Lake Buena Vista, Oakland, parts of Ocoee, and the Dr. Phillips, Horizon West, Hunters Creek, and Williamsburg communities in Southwest Orange County, FL. The district contains Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, International Drive, and the Orange County Convention Center.
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Life and Career
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Thompson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved to the state of Florida in 1955, where she grew up in the town of Perrine where members of her family worked in agriculture and construction. She attended Miami-Dade Community College and received a scholarship to attend the University of Miami in Coral Gables, where she enrolled shortly after that school ended racial segregation. In 1970, she received a bachelor's degree with honors in journalism and business education. She moved with her husband, Emerson, to Tallahassee, where he attended law school and she worked in state government and higher education. Her first position in Tallahassee was as Executive Secretary to Representative Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry, the first African American woman to serve in the Florida House of Representatives. After working for several years, she sought a Master of Science degree in Communication from Florida State University, which she received in 1973. She then joined her husband in Orlando. She began work as a teacher in Orange County Public Schools. After six years, she left the classroom to accept a position as Director of the Equal Opportunity Office at Valencia Community College where she served for 24 years as Assistant to the President.
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In 2002, Thompson ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 39th District, which included parts of downtown Orlando in Orange County, against Bruce Antone, Tiffany Moore Russell, and Jon Eason. She campaigned on her support for the class size amendment that was on the ballot in the general election that year and for a sales tax referendum in Orange County that would raise the sales tax to fund school construction. The Orlando Sentinel, though praising Thompson as "well-intentioned" and citing her experience in saving the Wells Built Hotel and converting it to a history museum, endorsed Antone, noting that she lacked Antone's "ability to get things done for the entire district." She ended up coming in third place, receiving 26% of the vote to Antone's 34% and Moore Russell's 31%, and Eason's 9%.
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Thompson again ran for office in 2004 when she challenged incumbent State Senator Gary Siplin in the Democratic primary in the 19th District, which included parts of central Orange County and northern Osceola County. During the campaign, she attacked Siplin for his tenure in office, asserting that he was "ineffective" and focused more on talking about solutions than solving problems, alienating local leaders in the process. The Sentinel agreed with Thompson, asking, "What has Mr. Siplin actually done for his constituents?" and noting, "Even Mr. Siplin is hard-pressed to find an answer." The Sentinel ended up endorsing Thompson, commending her "political savvy and dogged determination to actually get things done." Ultimately, however, she ended up falling short to Siplin, receiving 40% of the vote to his 60%.
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Thompson died on February 13, 2025 at a hospital in Orlando, Florida from complications of knee surgery, aged 76.