Terry L. Fields, a respected Jacksonville civic leader and former member of the Florida House of Representatives and Jacksonville City Council, died Sunday at age 66 after a brief illness.
Fields, known for his devotion to public service and mentorship of young leaders, was remembered as a voice for working families and a tireless advocate for his hometown. Terry Fields was a devoted Democrat who represented the 14th District in the Florida House from 2000 until 2008, was born in Jacksonville on April 18, 1959. A graduate of Florida A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in education and graduate coursework at Florida State University, he served on the Jacksonville Civil Service Board and the City Council before his election to the state legislature.
“Today our city mourns the loss of a dedicated public servant whose work helped shape Jacksonville for the better,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a statement. “Terry Fields was a mentor, a leader, and a fierce champion for his community. My prayers are with his family.”
Fields was known among colleagues for his ability to build relationships across political lines. “Terry had a remarkable gift for listening and lifting others up,” said Ju’Coby Pittman, CEO of the Clara White Mission, who called Fields “a dear friend and pillar of our community.”
During his legislative career, Fields focused on economic opportunity, education and labor issues, drawing from his background as an executive assistant with the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1408 and his work on local governance. He was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 1991 and served through the 1990s before his statehouse service, which included representing parts of downtown Jacksonville and western Duval County.
“His legacy will live on in the many young leaders he helped and the policies he championed for everyday Floridians,” added community activist Katrina Brown in a social media tribute.
Fields remained active in public life after leaving the legislature, including a 2015 run for City Council focused on job training and human rights initiatives. In recent years, Fields was teaching at Duval Charter School Westside, where he mentored students and helped lead a group focused on uplifting young men. He is survived by his son John Paul Fields and a host of family members.