Mildred Crump, the first Black woman to serve on the Newark City Council, has died at the age of 86.

Crump was a councilwoman from 1994 to 1998 and again from 2006 to 2021. She made history when she was sworn in as Newark's first African-American councilwoman in 1994.

Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way remembered Crump as a trailblazer, praising her legacy and impact on the community.

Gov. Phil Murphy posted on social media that "Mildred Crump deftly advocated for the most vulnerable in her community, working to uplift New Jersey's women, children, senior citizens, families, and residents with disabilities."

The cause of Crump's death has not been disclosed.