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Who is Mercia Bowser? DC mayor Muriel loses sister to Covid-19, declares 'day of remembrance for lives lost'

Mayor Muriel Bowser declares February 24 as 'A day of remembrance for lives lost to Covid-19' after her only sister Mercia passed away on Wednesday

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's sister died on Wednesday morning, aged 64, a statement posted on her official website revealed. "My family and I are mourning the loss of my sister, Mercia Bowser, who passed away this morning due to complications related to Covid-19," the Mayor wrote explaining the cause of the death. "Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic," she wrote, mourning her sister. 

The Mayor also had a word of advice for citizens in the wake of surging Covid-19 deaths including her sister. "I ask that you continue to keep those who have been lost or impacted by the pandemic and those who are working so hard to protect us from it in your thoughts and prayers," she wrote before requesting that her family be "granted the time and space" needed to mourn the loss of Mercia. 

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Who was Mercia Bowser?

Mayor Bowser shed light on what her only sister and her eldest sibling Mercia meant to her in the statement. "Mercia was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She worked tirelessly for children, the elderly, and those with behavioral disorders until her retirement and beyond. Mercia's profile on LinkedIn listed the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as her workplace. According to its website, "NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness."

Mercia was born on March 7, 1956. She is survived by her parents Joan and Joseph Bowser, brothers, sister, nieces, and nephews. "She counted many friends and fond memories of her service to Catholic Charities and the DC Office on Aging," Mayor Bowser's statement further read. Also mourning Mercia's demise are "a host of friends ranging from St John’s Elementary School to Academy of Our Lady High School, to Fisk University, and Israel Metropolitan CME Church."

What hospital was Mercia Bowser being treated at?

Mercia was undergoing treatment for Covid-19 related pneumonia under the care of doctors and the nursing staff at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. “We are grateful to the doctors and nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, who heroically treated her for Covid-19 related pneumonia until her death. We thank you for your kindness and will share how our family will honor Mercia, my only sister and oldest sibling, and her beautiful spirit in the coming days," Mayor Bowser wrote concluding the statement.

Washington recorded 1,000 Covid-19 related deaths on Wednesday and Mercia's death came a few hours after Mayor Bowser declared February 24 as a day of remembrance. "I hereby proclaim February 24, 2021, in Washington, DC as “A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR LIVES LOST TO COVID-19” and call on all Washingtonians to pause and remember more than 1,000 neighbors, family, and friends whose lives were lost to the virus," she tweeted.

"Today, we pray for the lives lost and send our love to every person and family impacted by this virus. Tonight, at 6 pm, houses of worship across DC are encouraged to honor the more than 1,000 lives lost to Covid-19 in Washington, DC," her follow-up tweets read.