DETROIT—Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a longtime Michigan lawmaker who represented Detroit for more than a decade in Congress, was honored Oct. 22 during a homegoing service celebrating her life and legacy at Greater Emmanuel Institute.
Flags across Michigan flew at half-mast on Oct. 22 to honor her lifetime of public service and her influence in Detroit politics. Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick died Oct. 7. She was 80. Her son, former Detroit mayor and now pastor Kwame Malik Kilpatrick, delivered her eulogy.
A Democrat, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2010, where she was a member of the House Appropriations Committee. She chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2007 to 2009—the first woman to hold the position—and secured billions in federal funding for Detroit.
That funding supported major projects including public rail transportation improvements, education initiatives and the $1.5 billion Detroit Riverfront development.
She also became the first Black member of Congress appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board. As an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, she championed efforts to raise the federal minimum wage, support minority-owned businesses and provide millions in aid to Haiti and several sub-Saharan African nations.
Before serving in U.S. Congress, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick spent 18 years in the Michigan House of Representatives, beginning in 1979. She was the first Black woman to serve on the chamber’s Appropriations Committee and was mentored by others, such as then-Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and former U.S. Rep. John Conyers.
“The Clay Evans family and the Cheeks Kilpatrick family go back an awful long way,” Wayne County Executive Warren “Clay” Evans said during the service. “We covered a whole lot of miles together. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was the matriarch of a political dynasty—and that’s important, and that’s true.
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick,
D-Mich., is shown in a 1998 photo. Photo:AP
The family has been strong and active. Any good thing that’s happened in the city of Detroit happened to Wayne County,” he said, noting that Detroit is one of 42 communities in the county. “So, everything good she did for the city of Detroit, she did for the county of Wayne.”
Before entering politics, Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick worked as a public school teacher for more than a decade. She is the mother of two children, son Kwame and daughter Ayanna.
Her passing drew tributes from political leaders and organizations around the world, recognizing her decades of public service and advocacy for Detroit. Paying respects included Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer via video and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who offered remarks in person.
In a statement regarding the lowering of the flag, Gov. Whitmer called the former congresswoman “a stalwart voice for Detroit.”
“Whether it was civil rights or humanitarian aid, Congresswoman Kilpatrick was never afraid to break barriers and stand up for what she believed in,” the statement said. The governor also called Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick “ a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.”
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies also issued a statement calling her “an unwavering public servant who left a lasting impact on Black communities in Detroit and across the United States.”
The Detroit Caucus Executive Board also released a statement, noting, “Detroit has lost one of our greatest champions. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick was a force of nature—a trailblazer whose voice carried the hopes of her community from the streets of Detroit to the halls of Congress.
She fought fearlessly for justice, equity and opportunity, breaking barriers and opening doors for many of us who have the honor to serve today.”
“Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our city and our state: a legacy of courage, compassion and unshakable faith in the power of public service. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones, and we pledge to carry forward the passion she so wholeheartedly pursued.”
“I shared a very special bond,” said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the 119th Congress, in remarks at the service. “The year that I was elected to Congress was 2007, and that was the year that Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick became chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
I was the only Black woman elected to Congress that year, and I was the youngest one—and that sister grabbed me up right away. Powerful.” Rep. Clarke described the chairwoman as a “force of nature.”
“Her commitment to the people of Detroit, Michigan, was only superseded by her deep, passionate love for her family,” she said. “There wasn’t a day when the Honorable Cheeks Kilpatrick was not thinking about her family—and, by extension, the beloved community she served for so long.
Screenshot from livestream video of former Detroit Mayor, now Pastor Kwame Kilpatrick, delivering the eulogy at the Oct. 22 service for his mother, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. Photo: Eric Ture Muhammad
Her passion for Black people was empowering, uplifting and lasting. That sister understood how Congress worked—and she worked it. She worked it on behalf of the people of Detroit.”
Rep. Clarke praised Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s mastery of the appropriations process and her ability to secure vital federal funding. “She negotiated, she intimidated when necessary, and she made sure that Detroit got what it deserved,” Ms. Clarke said. “Congresswoman Kilpatrick leaves behind a legacy of service that shines as an example to all who knew her. May she rest in power and everlasting peace,” she closed.
Pastor Kwame Kilpatrick delivered a heartfelt tribute to his mother. He spoke of her unwavering support and influence; her dedication to education; her role in his political career; and her prophetic insights.
Ms. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s impact was evident in her community work, legislative achievements, and her ability to inspire and motivate others, he said. He shared personal anecdotes, including her efforts to ensure his academic success and her visits during his incarceration.
As her son concluded, “I thought about the fact that God’s word is not bound by the dimensions that He created. He’s not bound by height, width, depth, or even time. And I thought about where my mother is right now, and I said, ‘Walk, Mama.
But then, sitting there, I saw her sister come up; she’s still walking. I saw her grandchildren come up; she’s still walking. I saw her niece and her nephews come up. She’s still walking. And when you see me and you see my big tall sister over there (Ayanna), she’s still walking. Walk Mama. Walk Mama. Glory to God,” he closed.
The tribute concluded with a prayer led by Reverend Robert Brumfield, emphasizing Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick’s legacy and the enduring impact of her faith and service.