Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, issued a statement following the death of her friend, Dr. Emma Daniels McFarlin.
“The passing of my dear friend, Dr. Emma Daniels McFarlin, affectionately known as Dr. Mc or Ahma, brings me great sadness, and I extend my most heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her. She was an exemplary woman with a passion for helping others – something she did without pause from the very beginning of her life. Of course, she is known for her trailblazing work at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first Black woman to ever lead operations for the department’s western region, and for her work in local government as an assistant city manager, and as an aide to a city councilman and Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles. As a successful Black woman who achieved high-level positions, she served as an inspiration to me and everyone who followed in her footsteps. Yet, it was not just her career and her historic accomplishments that made her the amazing woman who so many looked up to. It was her unwavering commitment to her family, to her friends, and to her community.
“Dr. McFarlin’s wisdom and ability to surround everyone with so much kindness, love, and happiness is evident in the way that so many referred to her as “Den Mother” and the fact that her home was a sanctuary where people could go to laugh and share in community. It was even known that on Thanksgiving dinners, her door was always open to those who had nowhere else to go.
“Even in this difficult time, I hope that Dr. McFarlin’s life and the way she carried it out continues to bring us peace, and that her loved ones can find solace in the fact that she had an incredible and unforgettable impact on so many.”
