SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 – The Honorable Mable Butler, the first Black woman elected into Orlando City Council, and first Black person elected as an Orange County Commissioner, died today at 98. Known as the “matriarch of African American politics in Orlando,” Butler never lost her passion for the community, nor the ability to tell you exactly what she was thinking. She was full of zest, dignity and love for the people–and she had a smile that would melt your heart. You couldn’t speak with her without a giggle.
Butler served as a member of the ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee, appointed by Publisher Rich Black.
A true Florida native, Commissioner Butler was born in Gainesville and grew up on Jacksonville. Experiencing segregation inspired her to fight for those who were disenfranchised. She attended New York City College where she gained specific tools to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, she said in a 2020 interview with Orlando Public Library. She applied her knowledge when she moved to Orlando in the late 1950s and stood against discrimination in Orlando’s housing system. Her work is still evident today.
Community work drove Butler, who collaborated with Meals on Wheels, bringing free meals to residents in Apopka, Southwest Orlando, Parramore, and other areas. Her love for seniors grew into an annual Valentine’s Day Party at L. Claudia Allen Senior Center, which she organized with others. In 1992, she helped create an exhibit at the Orange County Historical Museum titled “I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Change America,” which centered on African American women who had influenced American society, according to The Community Paper. Her community advocacy led to the City proclaiming Mable Butler Avenue, where she lived.
A true pioneer in every sense. The people will miss The Honorable Mable Butler, but her legacy will live on for many years to come.
Photo: Mable Butler and ONYX Publisher Rich Black
