Cora Faith Walker, the chief policy officer for St. Louis County, a former Democratic state representative, and an outspoken advocate for health care and reproductive rights died on Friday morning at the age of 37.
The cause of her death has not been released, however, according to various reports, Walker was sent to the hospital for an urgent health issue. Her family was unable to remark.
Walker’s death elicited a flood of condolences and statements of sorrow from lawmakers, progressive activists, and others in St. Louis and around Missouri.
Walker got a bachelor’s degree in arts and a master’s degree in public health from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the Brown School of Social Work’s first master’s class in public health.
She graduated from St. Louis University School of Law with a law degree and a certificate in health law.
After winning the August primary in the strongly Democratic 74th District, which encompasses all or parts of Florissant, Ferguson, Jennings, Calverton Park, Dellwood, Country Club Hills, and Norwood Court, she was elected to the Missouri House in November 2016. In 2018, Walker was re-elected.