Faye Blanton Former Florida Senate Secretary Faye Blanton died on November 8th, one day before her 77th birthday. Blanton started her career in 1970, working for Senator Welborn Daniel. She moved to the Senate Secretary’s Office in 1974 and became Assistant Secretary of the Senate under Secretary Joe Brown. In 1996, she was selected as the first female Secretary of the Senate by former Senate President Toni Jennings. She remained Secretary until she retired in 2008. During her tenure, she served as Secretary and Parliamentarian of the 1997-1998 Florida Constitution Revision Commission. She was called back to serve as Secretary of the 2017- 2018 Constitution Revision Commission. Blanton is survived by three children, two step-children and husband Ed Blanton.
Rosalynn Carter Former United States First Lady Rosalynn Carter died November 19th at the age of 96. Diagnosed with dementia earlier this year, she joined her husband in hospice care on November on November 17th. Much can be written about the wife of former Democratic President Jimmy Carter. She was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from Georgia Southwestern College in 1946. She earned the nickname “Steel Magnolia” for her intelligence and tenacity, particularly during her husband’s presidency. As First Lady, she advocated for the passage of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 and for the Equal Rights Amendment. In addition to her passion for mental health awareness, she was a fierce advocate for human rights and fighting disease. She was a longtime volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and, together with her husband, she co-founded the Carter Center and Vaccinate Your Family. Through the Carter Center, they spearheaded efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease.