It’s official! One month after claiming victory in the mayoral election, Detroit City Council President and Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield celebrated another high point in her life this weekend.
Rise Higher Detroit, Sheffield’s transition team, officially announced her marriage to fiancé Rickey Jackson Jr. in a private ceremony in Detroit, and that the couple is “thrilled” to start this chapter together “while continuing their shared commitment” to serving the city.
Several social media posts leading up to the event pointed to the couple’s private nuptials, which they celebrated Sunday, Dec. 7, at The Godfrey in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.
While there wasn’t much noticeable activity outside of the hotel Sunday, multiple city vehicles were spotted, along with vendors unloading hundreds of red roses toward the back of the building. Her father, the Rev. Horace Sheffield III, and her Chief of Staff Brian White also were spotted entering the hotel stylishly dressed.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the love prayers and well wishes we’ve received during this special moment in our lives,” Sheffield and Jackson said in an emailed statement.
Deadline Detroit first reported the news Saturday afternoon, and “The Cook uP Show Podcast” posted a photo of the pair to their Instagram page Sunday, along with the caption: “Detroit’s future First Couple! Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield will marry Rickey Jackson Jr. — community leader, former Adrian College baller, and brother of WNBA star Rickea Jackson. Sending big congratulations to the happy couple!”
Jackson works for the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan as the program manager of Project Play, which aims to help provide sports and recreational access for children, according to their website. He also is the brother to Detroit-born Rickea Jackson, WNBA forward for the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sheffield officially begins her role as mayor in January. She is currently working with her transition committee to shape future priorities for the city and sift through more than 1,000 job applications for her administration.
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: It’s official! Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield ‘thrilled’ to be married
Reporting by Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
