M. Athalie Range; a Florida Pioneer dies at 91

M. Athalie Range, whose fight against decaying, segregated schools launched a historic political career that took her to City Hall, Tallahassee and Washington, died Tuesday evening of cancer, her family said. She was 91.

In the 1960s, she became the first African American to serve on Miami's City Commission. The next decade saw her become the first black -- and woman -- in Florida history to serve in a high-ranking state government post, as director of the Department of Community Affairs. And former President Jimmy Carter appointed her to serve on the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

A power broker herself, Range launched the careers of today's leaders, including former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek.

''She knew more about politics than anyone I know,'' Meek said Tuesday night. ``She taught me humility, first and foremost. She taught me to go out and talk with the little people in the community who no one else thought about. She took me to places in the community where other people didn't go.''

Even in her later years, she continued to mentor up-and-coming political aspirants like the late Arthur Teele and former County Commissioner Barbara Carey Shuler.

Read more about this remarkable woman and great Floridian here