Terry Field’s name isn’t on the signs posted along Jacksonville roads honoring everyone from national civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to locally influential community figures.
Fields advocated during his time on City Council and in the state Legislature to get the honorary designations in place, most visibly in renaming the 20th Street Expressway after Martin Luther King Jr.
That behind-the-scenes work is one way to measure the impact of Fields, who died Feb. 8 at the age of 66.
His rapid political rise saw him serve on City Council from 1991 to 1999 and in the state House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008. The upward arc at the ballot box ended when he lost an election for state Senate in 2011.
Fields remained active in politics as a campaign manager for state Rep. Kimberly Daniels and as a sounding board for others.
“Up until almost his last breath, the thing that he enjoyed most talking about was politics,” City Council member Rahman Johnson said.
Johnson and City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman said they often turned to Fields for advice.
“I would not be in public service if it wasn’t for him,” Pittman said. “He always saw good in people, regardless of what party you were. He wanted to make sure we had the best people for the city.”
HIs death was marked by remembrances in Jacksonville City Hall and the Florida Legislature.
City Council unanimously voted Feb. 10 for a resolution honoring Fields. Mayor Donna Deegan also recognized his impact.
“We will be forever inspired by his efforts to protect workers’ rights, expand healthcare access, and invest in underserved neighborhoods,” Deegan said. “His love for Jacksonville guided his life and we’re all better for it.”
State Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, lead a moment of silence for Fields on the state House floor.
“Terry devoted much of his time in the House to advocating for education and his years of public service had a lasting, positive impact on downtown Jacksonville and western Duval County,” Duggan told House members.
Fields was born in Jacksonville and had fast rise in politics
Fields, a Democrat, was born in Jacksonville and graduated from Ribault High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Florida A&M University.
He returned to Jacksonville and worked as executive assistant to the president of International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1408. While still in his mid-20s, he ran for a position on the Jacksonville Civil Service Board and served on it from 1984 to 1991. He held a seat on City Council from 1991 to 1999 and in the state House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008.
City Council member Matt Carlucci, who served with Fields, said he was a vocal supporter of Jacksonville landing the Jaguars.
Fields also supported the development of River City Marketplace which he said in 2015 was his biggest accomplishment in public life because of the impact the mall had on jobs and services on the Northside.
While on City Council, Fields lead the charge for renaming the Haines Street Expressway and 20th Street Expressway after Martin Luther King Jr.
“I think it’s important that we not forget who he was, particularly for young African-Americans,” Fields said in 1999. “I don’t think he has been forgotten, but I don’t want that to happen. He is an icon. This will be a continuous reminder of how far we have come as a community.”
The renaming of Florida Avenue after A. Phillip Randolph recognized another civil rights leader. Randolph grew up in Jacksonville and directed the March on Washington.
Johnson said when Fields talked about that street renaming, Fields said it “wasn’t just a street sign change” but instead sought to elevate the Eastside neighborhood that A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard runs through.
In the state Legislature, Fields sponsored legislation that designated roads in honor of Robert “Bullet Bob” Hayes, Eddie Mae Steward, Dr. Mary L. Austin-Jones, Flossie Brunson, Dr. Robert Brown, Rev. C.B. Daily, Taye Brown, Johnnie Mae Chappell, Barbara Van Blake and MaVynee “Beach Lady” Betsch.
After an unsuccessful state Senate campaign ended Field’s string of wins at the ballot box, he fell short in races for City Council in 2015 and a state House seat in 2016.
He kept his hand in politics and taught at Duval Charter School at Westside where he lead the Wildcat Gentleman, a group of middle school students also known as the Young Men of DCSW.
“Even in his final chapter, he was teaching and leading the young men of Duval Charter School Westside, pouring civics into their spirits, reminding those students every day that their voices mattered and they should give back to their communities,” Johnson said when City Council approved the resolution honoring Fields.
Funeral services for Fields have not yet been scheduled.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Terry Fields relished politics and honoring others. He died at 66.
Reporting by David Bauerlein, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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