‘Ferocious in her fight for justice.’ Hundreds mourn, honor Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer
A sea of orange-clad friends, family and colleagues spread across the large grassy lawn near Coral Springs City Hall on Friday to remember and honor the life and legacy of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, who was gunned down by her husband two days prior.
The vigil, organized by her lifelong friends, was steeped in symbolism and love — from the location where she spent countless hours fighting for her constituents to the orange attire of over 200 mourners. Orange was Metayer’s favorite color and that of her alma mater, FAMU, organizers said.
Jamie Gula, 36, was close friends with Metayer, 38, during their time at Coral Springs Charter School, and emphasized how important it was to come to the event.
“She was always a joy to be around,” she said. “Even in our government classes, we knew back then she’d be a star.”
Their friendship lasted into adulthood, and Metayer was always a shoulder for Gula to lean on, especially when she went through the loss of her father.
“I was shocked and devastated, she had so much going for her,” she said of Metayer’s death. “It’s devastating in so many ways.”
On Wednesday morning, Coral Springs police discovered Metayer‘s body inside her home while performing a welfare check. Authorities allege her husband, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, killed her with a shotgun. He’s been charged with premeditated murder and tampering with evidence.
READ MORE: Coral Springs vice mayor was shot three times with shotgun by husband, report says
Cass Zangwill, 24, meet Metayer through grass-roots organizing. They mourned together in South Florida at a vigil for Renee Good, the mother of three who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a peaceful protest in Minneapolis.
“I think it’s a really sad reflection on femicide and violence against women in our country, the fact that that’s how I met her, and now this tragedy has happened in our hometown,” she said.
Dozens of mourners at Metayer’s vigil took turns sharing experiences of how she touched each one of their lives: from mentoring their careers to building lifelong, deeply entwined friendships and fighting side by side on the political battleground.
As each mourner spoke, some holding back tears and others sobbing, Metayer’s family watched in loving silence. They nodded along, silently wept and embraced some of the speakers.
Nissie Cadette took the mic and spoke about what an influence Metayer had been on her life, fighting through tears at every word.
“Nancy showed me what it truly means to advocate and not to speak but to stand, and not to care but to ask,” she tearfully said, telling the crowd that Metayer drove her to her first advocate event. “She saw something and pulled purpose out of me. She taught me how to carry myself.”
Among the speakers were a number of political figures who had worked with Metayer, including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, U.S. Rep Jared Moskowitz, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins and Hollywood Commissioner Idelma Quintana.
In 2020, Metayer became the first Black woman and first Haitian American elected in Coral Springs. She was planning to announce a run for Congress.
“She made people believe that we could do better by this planet and by our people,” Levine Cava said. “She was ferocious in her fight for justice, but she did it with such a gentle hand that people came along willingly.”
Moskowitz presented Metayer’s family with an American flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol and promised them that he and Wasserman Schultz would speak about Metayer and her legacy to the House of Representatives.
The vigil came to a close with what her friends called a “Black radical tradition” — a protest chant in honor of all the peaceful fights Metayer rallied behind on the streets of South Florida.
“Nancy Metayer was a freedom fighter, and she taught us how to fight,” the crowd sang. “We don’t fight all day and night until we get it right. What side are you on? The freedom side!”
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 11:47 PM.
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