Tears as U.S Ex-Rep Mia Love gets final honour in Utah

Family, friends, and supporters of late U.S. Rep. Mia Love will honour her today being Monday April 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City.

Recall that Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reported that, Love, 49, died in March after battling brain cancer for three years.

She gave up the ghost at her home in Saratoga Springs after treatment failed.

Love had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumour, in 2022.

Doctors gave her 10 to 15 months, but she beat the odds and lived longer.

Her coffin, wrapped in the American flag, lay in state on Sunday at the Utah Capitol.

Sympathisers trooped in to pay their last respects at the Capitol’s rotunda.

Her memorial service holds today at the LDS Institute of Religion, University of Utah.

An honour guard will perform immediately after the ceremony.

Born Ludmya Bourdeau, Love was the first Black Republican woman to enter U.S. Congress.

She represented Utah from 2015 to 2019 before losing re-election.

In 2003, she entered politics after winning a city council seat in Saratoga Springs.

Six years later, she became the city’s first Black female mayor.

She became a national figure after a fiery speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Though she lost her first federal race narrowly, she bounced back in 2014 and won.

She beat her opponent with about 7,500 votes in that historic election.

Love avoided racial talks during campaigns but acknowledged her unique position after her victory.

She said her win silenced critics who doubted a Black, Republican, Mormon woman could win in Utah.

At her peak, many saw her as a rising Republican star.

However, she fell out with ex-President Donald Trump and refused to align with his politics.

In 2018, she criticised Trump for vulgar remarks about Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.

She lost her seat in the 2018 midterms as Democrats took over many constituencies.

She is survived by her husband, Jason, and three children Alessa, Abigale, and Peyton.

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