TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa City Council member Gwendolyn Henderson has died, the city of Tampa confirmed on Tuesday. She was 60 years old.

Henderson represented District 5, which includes Downtown Tampa.

Henderson died of natural causes in her home overnight, the city stated, adding that Tampa Fire Rescue responded to an emergency medical call on Tuesday morning and transported her to the hospital, where life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.

Henderson grew up in Tampa before going to college at Florida A&M University. She earned a master’s degree from Saint Leo University and she was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

"She was very passionate about what she cared about, and the Tampa alumni chapter," said Karen Padgett Beard, Henderson's sorority sister and friend. "She cared about scholarships. She was chair of our scholarship committee for many, many years. And as a result of her service, we’ve been able to give out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships."

Voters elected Henderson to the council in 2023, where she soon after became Chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency, according to the city.

That same year, she also opened up a bookstore in Tampa Heights, Black English Bookstore. The bookstore offers titles in Black literature for children, college-bound students and adults.

The people who knew Henderson best said the impact she made in the community was immeasurable.

“If you talk to any of her students. Anybody that ever went to Jefferson (High School), they know Ms. Henderson,” said Henry Washington, Jr., a longtime friend of Henderson’s. “They know how much she cared about the school. She cared about the students being successful.”

Tampa City Council member Charlie Miranda, who represents District 6, described Henderson as a “leader and not a follower.”

“What she said, she did, and she wasn’t soft spoken,” he said. “If she had something to say, she’d say it, and that’s what I liked about her the most. I’ve been on and off council since 1974, and have yet to meet a council that came in fresh and new like she did.”

While she had her hands in many baskets, it’s her bookstore that will now serve as more than a symbol of where her heart truly lied. It’s a place, Washington said, people will be able to take "a Gwen Henderson lesson" from.

"Keep her legacy alive and do what’s best for students. Sometimes, she would shake up the adults on campus, but that’s fine. The adults will be all right. Our goal as educators is to do what’s best for students, and she definitely walked that walk," he said.

A legacy that will indeed live on.

People have been visiting the bookstore, dropping off flowers in her memory. One of Henderson’s friends said he had spoken with her hours before her passing and said she was fine, which makes this loss hit even harder. 

"Councilwoman Henderson was a powerhouse in our community — she was a teacher, business owner, and champion for African-American culture and Tampa’s history. Her sense of humor energized our city and her loss leaves a deep void for all of us," stated the city of Tampa.

Tampa will hold a special election to replace her on the council. Memorial services will be announced on a later date.