Former Delaware state Rep. and Wilmington activist Herman Holloway Jr. dies

Former Delaware state Rep. and Wilmington activist Herman M. Holloway Jr. has died.

Holloway, who was considered by many to be a leader, activist and compassionate person, helped in mentoring and growing many of Wilmington's advocates.

"Herman always pushed the democratic rule," said Derrick "Pastor D" Johnson, pastor of Joshua Harvest Church in Wilmington. "He never, and I attended many speeches and rallies, he never shaped a policy or introduced a bill or talked about an issue where he didn't refer to his dad and how democracy should work."

A cause of death was not provided, but friends said the 79-year-old had been ill for some time before dying on March 3. Visitations for Holloway were scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by his funeral at 11 a.m. at Congo Legacy Center located at 501 W. 28th St.

Holloway was the son of Delaware's first black legislator, the late Sen. Herman Holloway.

Like his father, he became involved in politics and activism, recruiting people who would go on to advocate on behalf of others in Delaware.

NAACP Delaware State Conference of Branches President Richard Smith met both Holloways in the 1960s as they fought for people's rights in Wilmington and Delaware. Smith remembers the father-son team working to end the National Guard's monthslong occupation of Wilmington in 1968, following days of riots after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

"He was one of the many forces in the state of Delaware," Smith said, adding that Holloway's death is a loss to people in the state.

"He was a great advocate for tenant's rights," he added. "He was probably working on that until the day he died."

Holloway served in the state House of Representatives for District 3 from 1977 to 1983 before he resigned amid a misdemeanor conviction for tax evasion, a charge he denied. Former Gov. Mike Castle pardoned him in 1990.

After getting a judge's permission to run, Holloway was reelected to the House in 1992, replacing Jim Sills, who became mayor of Wilmington. In 1994, he gave up his House seat to challenge Margaret Rose Henry in special and general Senate elections for his late father's position. He lost, and Henry became the first African American woman to serve in the Delaware Senate.

Outside of politics, Holloway established the Martin Luther King Jr. Complaint and Referral Center where he provided help to Wilmington residents particularly those in the city's Southbridge neighborhood. He served as the organization's executive director for 48 years.

Two phone numbers outside the Southbridge facility on South Heald Street went unanswered on Wednesday.

Holloway, along with the late Rep. Al O. Plant Sr., hosted "Community Crossfire," a local TV show where they talked about community issues and interviewed guests.

That's how Johnson said he met Holloway, who would have him on the show.

"I'm especially grateful that at the height of his political relevance and his work with the King Center, he placed the focus squarely on incarcerated individuals, families of incarcerated individuals, conditions, both in the prison and out," Johnson said. "And he put a great deal of legislative attention and interest into that."

Holloway, according to Congo Funeral Home, is survived by his four children Tracy Shy, Lisa Holloway-Shinn, Herman Holloway III and Marlo Holloway-Burris.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Former Delaware Rep., Wilmington activist Herman Holloway Jr. dies