Janelle Irwin Taylor
Longtime St. Petersburg community activist Theresa “Momma Tee” Lassiter died Sunday night, according to Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch.
Welch and his wife, Donna Welch, were planning a celebration of her life and community activism this Friday but canceled the event after her passing.
Lassiter had been suffering from cancer for a while, Welch said, but her health rapidly deteriorated over recent days.
“My wife was with her and her children,” Welch said. “She had hoped to show Tee how much the community appreciated her this week, but we are glad she knew what we were planning and knew how many people supported her.”
Lassiter spent countless hours advocating on behalf of residents in low-income portions of south St. Pete.
“A lot of these people didn’t trust the government, so they would talk to her and she would convey what was going on in the community to people who could do something about it,” Welch said.
Lassiter worked with people in the community who had been jailed by helping them find legal representation, jobs after re-entry and services to reduce recidivism. St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri were expected to speak in recognition of her efforts at her celebration Friday, Welch said.
Lassiter’s passion for the community sometimes put her in hot water with elected officials. She attended almost every St. Pete City Council meeting and her presence at the podium during public comment was expected, anticipated and sometimes feared.
“If it was rainin’ brains, y’all wouldn’t get wet,” Lassiter once said in a rant lamenting the council’s actions related to the new pier.
Lassiter would be silenced after her three-minutes of public comment were up by having her microphone turned off, but would continue making her point as she walked back to her seat in council chambers. Lassiter was once removed from a mayoral debate when she began disrupting proceedings. On numerous occasions.
“She was a very direct and passionate person. We’ve all suffered her wrath at some point,” Welch said. “But she was a stickler for details and was always looking out for members of her community.”
Lassiter most recently ran for St. Petersburg Mayor against incumbent Rick Kriseman, former Mayor Rick Baker and Uhuru activist Jesse Nevel.
Nevel and Lassiter were defeated in that election’s primary.
Welch said he doesn’t yet know when services will be held for Lassiter, but expects details of that celebration of life to come together later Monday or Tuesday.
Several people took to Facebook Monday as news spread of Lassiter’s passing.
“I’m so sorry to hear of her passing,” St. Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard wrote on Facebook. “I’m sure she is already getting involved in her community in heaven!”
“The community was better served under her leadership and tenacity,” wrote Darlene Evans Allen. “She made her presence known wherever she went.”
