JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trailblazer and Jacksonville native Betty Holzendorf, who served in both the Florida House and Florida Senate, was laid to rest Monday at Jacksonville National Cemetery after a celebration of life at St. Paul AME Church on New Kings Road. She died Feb. 29 at the age of 84.
Monday’s memorial followed a service Sunday for family and friends.
Holzendorf, part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, grew up in Jacksonville and earned degrees from then Edward Waters College -- now Edward Waters University -- the University of North Florida and Atlanta University.
Her start with government work began in the 1970s when she worked in the office of Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold.
She served in the Florida House from 1988 to 1992, becoming the first Black woman from Jacksonville to be elected to the Florida House.
She served in the Florida Senate from 1992-2002 and ran for mayor of Jacksonville in 2003 but lost.
She was an advocate for helping seniors and getting funding for education.
“We shared our mom with this whole community,” her son Kevin Holzendorf said.
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Betty Holzendorf, described as a devoted public servant, was also a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Former city council member and close friend Pat Lockett-Felder said former Senator Holzendorf was an icon who fought for everyone.
“Betty has always been a fighter for all the people. It mattered not to her if you were Black or white. Betty wanted what was good for this city,” Lockett-Felder said.
People who loved Holzendorf said she was always willing to help others learn, so it was only fitting that she had a street named after her at the University of North Florida.
“I got a lot of education from Betty. She would teach me how to get in to do this and how to do that,” Lockett-Felder said. “We’re really going to miss her.”
Flags at the Duval County Courthouse, Jacksonville City Hall, and the State Capitol building in Tallahassee will be flown at half-staff to honor Holzendorf.