Florida State Senator Dies After Complications From Knee Surgery

Geraldine Thompson was a longtime advocate for education and civil rights

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Posted Feb 14, 2025 3:15 AM CST

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Florida State Senator Dies After Complications From Knee Surgery — State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando ,speaks in opposition to Senate Bill 4B - Statewide Prosecutor, Feb. 8, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)

Florida state Senator Geraldine Thompson died Thursday at age 76 after complications from knee replacement surgery. Her legacy in the Florida Legislature, in which she served since 2006, remains significant. Thompson was a Democrat representing the Orlando area. Her most recent tenure in the Florida Senate began in 2022. She previously served in the Senate from 2012 to 2016, as well as in the Florida House from 2006 to 2012 and again from 2018 to 2022.

"Her tireless work in education, healthcare, and civil rights, including her leadership to establish the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture in Orlando, reflected her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations," her family said in a statement. Thompson served as vice chair on the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education. She was also part of several other committees, ranging from education to veterans affairs. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)