The community came together on Friday to pay final respects to former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner, the first Black mayor in all of New England.
The community came together on Friday to pay final respects to former Hartford Mayor Thirman Milner, the first Black mayor in all of New England.
Milner died on Nov. 29 at the age of 91.
A lying-in-state ceremony was held at City Hall on Thursday and his wake and funeral was held on Friday.
Milner led Hartford for six years, from 1981 to 1987, served as a state senator and he was the president of the Greater Hartford NAACP.
The Connecticut National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) said Milner will be remembered as a civil rights icon, community activist and dedicated public servant.
He paved the way for future Black leaders and served as a mentor for many politicians in Connecticut, both past and present, who said he created a path for them to be successful in pursuing public office.
A wake for Milner was held on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Metropolitan AME Zion Church at 2051 Main St. in Hartford and several dignitaries spoke.
The funeral service was held from noon to 2 p.m.
A lot of speakers talked about how to continue his legacy of trying to lift up others around him and to fight inequality.
"And so the question, as we walk out today, is will mayor Milner's memory be a moment or will it fuel the movement that will drive our community forward?" Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said.
"He was a real representation of who we are and where we come from. He was our voice. If we couldn't say it, we knew he was going to say it," Sen. Doug McRory (D-Hartford) said.
Milner's stepdaughter and nephew also spoke about his legacy.
"Civil rights was his life, before he became a state representative, before he came a state senator," stepdaughter Virginia Monteiro said.
"I think about the impact of what uncle Thirman would want us to do. Uncle Thirman would want us to change the world," nephew Teddy Milner said.
Milner's family was presented with a Hartford city flag that flew over the capitol the day he died, proclamations from the NAACP, Connecticut NAACP, African American Mayors Association and Congressional Black Caucus.
He also received proclamations from Gov. Ned Lamont, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Treasurer Erick Russell and Attorney General William Tong.
