Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a Detroit Democrat who over seven terms rose to become chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee, has died, according to people close to the Kilpatrick family. She was 80 years old.

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Detroit's new ombudsman, said she learned of the congresswoman's death in a text from Kwame Kilpatrick.

Gay-Dagnogo, who said she worked on Cheeks Kilpatrick's first campaign for the state house in the 1970s, said: "I will never forget today, the day I took the oath and the day that I lost my mentor."

She called Cheeks Kilpatrick "a Detroit giant" who taught her and other women starting out in politics how to dress, conduct themselves and be leaders.

Kilpatrick served 18 years in the state House

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