Lawmaker Sheilla Lampkin dies at 70

Retired teacher remembered as advocate for children

State Rep. Sheilla Lampkin
State Rep. Sheilla Lampkin

State Rep. Sheilla Lampkin, a retired Drew County teacher who was vice chairman of the House Education Committee, died Saturday night of ovarian cancer. She was 70.

Her husband, Damon Lampkin, said she passed away around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock. Lampkin, who was in her third term in the House, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer about two weeks ago, and Damon Lampkin said his wife's health had deteriorated quickly.

Word of Lampkin's death was spread by her fellow legislators Sunday morning, who remembered their colleague as a kind public official and advocate for Arkansas students.

"She greeted everyone with a smile and always wanted to know how she could help," House Minority Leader John Michael Gray, D-Augusta, said in a statement posted on Facebook early Sunday. "The people of Drew and Ashley Counties have lost a wonderful neighbor, the children of Arkansas have lost a dedicated advocate, and we've all lost a tremendous friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family."

The chairman of the House Education Committee, state Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, said he would often stay up late at night to discuss policy with Lampkin at the legislative apartments in Little Rock. While the two members of different parties did not always agree, Cozart said Lampkin would work to build compromises or simply vote her conscience.

"You could just tell the passion she had for teaching and for helping special-needs kids," Cozart said.

In Philadelphia, Arkansas Democrats gathered for the party's national convention this week also mourned the passing.

"She was a good listener," said Kathy Webb, a member of the Little Rock Board of Directors and a former state representative from 2011 through 2012. "She was quiet but she was strong, and she was always willing to fight for those were not able to fight for themselves -- kids, the elderly, people with disabilities."

Lampkin was a teacher of math and special education for 30 years. She worked in the Drew Central School District before spending her last 12 years teaching special education at Monticello Elementary School, her husband said. A Democrat, Lampkin began serving in the House in 2011, winning re-election in 2012 and 2014.

While the couple of nearly 49 years never had children, Damon Lampkin said his wife loved being with children and wanted to be a teacher since she was 6 years old.

After her retirement from teaching, Damon Lampkin said it was his wife's desire to continue helping children that led her to serve in Little Rock.

"You better be thinking about what you're gonna be doing next because you're not going to be satisfied at home doing nothing," Lampkin said he told her.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson offered his condolences to to Lampkin's family through a post on Twitter on Sunday. J.R. Davis, a spokesman for the governor, said Hutchinson will meet with his chief counsel this morning to discuss the process of filling Lampkin's seat.

The governor may choose not to hold a special election to fill a vacancy within the standard 150 days if it is determined that doing so would be "impracticable or unduly burdensome,"according Arkansas Code Annotated 7-7-105.

The news came days after Lampkin announced her cancer diagnosis and that she would not seek re-election for her seat representing House District 9, located in parts of Drew and Ashley counties.

After Lampkin vacated her nomination -- in which she ran unopposed in the March primary -- the Democratic Party of Arkansas announced it would hold a ballot convention to find a new candidate for the Nov. 8 general election.

On Sunday, state Democratic Party spokesman H.L. Moody said plans for that convention had not changed, and that it will likely be held Aug. 4 in Lampkin's hometown of Monticello. The convention works like a caucus, Moody said, and attendees from the district will voice their nominations and hear speeches if there are multiple nominees before casting votes.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported earlier this week that three local Democrats had expressed interest in running for Lampkin's seat. They are Candace Jeffries, a teacher from Crossett; former state Rep. Johnnie Brown of Crossett; and Grant Pace of Monticello.

The winner of the Democratic ballot convention will face Monticello Republican Jim Hall in the general election.

A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. today at Oakland Cemetery in Monticello.

Information for this article was contributed by Frank Lockwood and Mike Wickline of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Metro on 07/25/2016

Upcoming Events