Cathedral to Host Funeral for Labor Secretary Alexis Herman

The Cathedral is honored to host the funeral for former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, who was the first Black American to lead the U.S. Department of Labor.

Secretary Herman died here in Washington on April 25 after a brief illness. A longtime figure in Democratic Party politics, she served as Labor Secretary during President Clinton’s second term.

She witnessed and battled against segregation in her native Alabama, and first came to Washington to work in the Labor Department under President Jimmy Carter. Throughout her lengthy career in public service, she was a visible champion for minorities and women in the workforce. 

She managed the convention team for Jesse Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential bids, and later served as Chief of Staff for the Democratic National Committee and vice chair of the 1992 Democratic National Convention. She joined the Clinton Administration as director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, and then served as Secretary of Labor. She went on to serve on the boards of Coca-Cola, Toyota, MGM Resorts International and other large companies. 

We are expecting eulogies from President Clinton, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and others.

Members of the public are encouraged to join the service online via livestream.