‘We lost a ray of sunshine.’ Tributes pour in after Nancy Metayer Bowen’s death

The domestic killing of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen — allegedly at the hands of her husband, who is now in custody without bond — sparked an outpouring of grief across South Florida’s political and civic circles.

Friends, colleagues and political leaders are remembering Metayer Bowen as a compassionate public servant, a rising political leader and a trailblazer who became the first Black and Haitian American elected to the Coral Springs City Commission in 2020.

A vigil will be held in her honor from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3, at Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 W. Sample Road.

As news of her death has spread, tributes poured in from elected officials and community leaders who worked alongside her and say her dedication to public service and her community left a lasting impression.

Here is what people who knew her are saying:

“Nancy was my right hand....She was more than a colleague. She was a dear friend, a leader, a true light in our city. Nancy’s impact was far beyond her title...She showed us what a public servant looks like.”— Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook

“Coral Springs is in mourning. No words can capture the depth of this loss. ... Nancy was not only a leader in our community; she was a light in every room she entered.” — Coral Springs City Manager Catherine Givens

“Nancy cared deeply about our environment and about equity, and used her voice without hesitation. As vice mayor, she never lost sight of the people she was fighting for.” — Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava

“She had a good heart. She truly cared about people, even when people were saying some of the most horrible things about her and us. She still cared, rolled up her sleeves and went to every event that she could go to.” — Coral Springs Commissioner Joshua Simmons

“Nancy led with grace, strength and an unwavering commitment to her community. Her impact extended far beyond Coral Springs.” — Tamarac Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton

“I held her in a hug at our Democratic Party’s Leadership Summit, never imagining it would be one of our last moments together. Nancy loved her community deeply and believed, with every fiber of her being, that a better and more equitable future was possible for all of us.” — Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party

“She was a passionate public servant. Her commitment to service and her impact on the lives of so many will not be forgotten.” — Marleine Bastien, Miami-Dade commissioner

“She was always fighting for her community, always pushing to help. She had such a future.” — U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-23), who represents Coral Springs in Congress

“We lost a ray of sunshine with her death.” — Florida State Rep. Robin Bartleman (D), who represents parts of Broward

“Nancy brought an energy and a moral clarity to every room she entered.”— North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme

“While many knew her as a leader and advocate, we knew her as a sister, a daughter, and a friend whose warmth and laughter filled every room. Her legacy will live on not only in the policies she helped shape but in the countless lives she touched.” — the Metayer family, in a statement on Facebook

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.

This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 3:36 PM.