(Memphis) Friends, family and former constituents will come together over the next two days to mourn longtime Mid-South politician Minerva Johnican.
The 74-year-old died last Friday after a long illness.
Visitation will be held Friday evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Parkway Gardens Presbyterian Church at 1005 East Shelby Drive in Whitehaven. Johnican’s funeral will be held there Saturday at Noon.
In 1975, Johnican broke barriers by becoming the first woman elected to the Shelby County Quarterly Court — which later became the Shelby County Commission.
Johnican also served for several years on the Memphis City Council — becoming the first African-American to be elected to an at-large position.
Later in her career, Johnican served as Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk.