Lillian DeBaptiste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillian DeBaptiste
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|---|---|
| 62nd Mayor of West Chester | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Jordan Norley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lillian Louise DeBaptiste November 15, 1951 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Thomas D. Lambert Sr. |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent | Clifford DeBaptiste |
| Education | West Chester University (Graduate in Psychology) |
Lillian Louise DeBaptiste (born November 15, 1951) is an American politician and a funeral director. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently, she serves as the Mayor of West Chester. This town is the main city of Chester County, Pennsylvania. She is the first black woman to become mayor of West Chester.
Her Early Life and Education
Lillian DeBaptiste grew up in West Chester. She went to Henderson High School. After high school, she studied at West Chester University. There, she earned a degree in psychology.
Her Work and Business
Since 1973, Lillian DeBaptiste has worked as a funeral director. She works at her family's business, DeBaptiste Funeral Homes. This business has two locations. One is in West Chester, and the other is in Bryn Mawr.
Besides the funeral home, she also runs a place for events. It's called Milestone Events. This banquet hall is right next to their funeral home in West Chester.
Her Journey in Politics
On February 7, 2021, Lillian DeBaptiste announced she wanted to be the Mayor of West Chester. She won the first round of voting, called the Democratic primary. She beat the mayor at the time, Jordan Norley, and another candidate.
Later, she won the main election in November. On January 3, 2022, she officially became mayor. This made her the first black woman to hold this important job in West Chester.
As mayor, she has supported different community events. For example, she helped start West Chester's first yearly Porchfest. This event happened on May 21, 2022. It was a fun day for the community.
She also continued a special group called the Police Department Diversity Task Force. This group works to make the West Chester Police Department more diverse. The goal is to help people trust the police more.
Her Family Life
Lillian DeBaptiste is married to Thomas D. Lambert Sr. They live together in West Chester. They have five children and four grandchildren. Her father, Clifford DeBaptiste, was also a mayor of West Chester. He was the first black mayor of the town. He served from 1994 to 2002.
