Congressman Donald McKeechin dies at 61
Photo by Bill Clark/CQ Rollcall
Rep. Donald McKeechin (D-VA) died Monday.
According to a statement by his chief of staff dated November 28, the congressman has lost his battle with cancer.
“We are all devastated by the passing of our boss and friend, Congressman Donald McKeechin. We’ve seen you fight and triumph over the collateral effects of colorectal cancer…and put them first.”
The Junior Representative was elected Virginia’s representative in 2016 and has served on the US Capitol since 2017. Supported SNAP benefits low-income Americans, advocates for investments in green energy, and supports reproductive rights.
Lawyer McKeechin was Lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the NAACP.
In 2008, he received his Master of Theology degree from Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.
Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. McEachin was elected to both houses of the Virginia Legislature.
In a statement released Tuesday, President Joe Biden said:
I met Don after he was elected to Congress in 2016. I will always be grateful for his friendship and his early and enthusiastic support when I ran for president. Don was a fighter. He fought for justice, civil rights, and often marginalized communities. Thanks to Don’s leadership and relentless advocacy, we passed historic legislation to combat the climate crisis and promote environmental justice.
He is survived by three adult children and a wife, Colette Wallace McKeechin (also an attorney), and was the first woman elected to the Commonwealth of Richmond attorneys and the first black woman.
Arrangements for a memorial service for Rep. McEachin will be announced in the near future.
https://www.essence.com/news/donald-mceachin-passes-away/ Congressman Donald McKeechin dies at 61
