Celebration Of Life Event Scheduled For Haitian-American Coral Springs Vice Mayor 

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. April 9, 2026: A celebration of life event has been scheduled for April 17th for murdered Haitian-American Coral Springs Vice Mayor, Nancy Metayer Bowen.

The celebration will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs. Guests attending the service are asked to arrive by noon. A public viewing will follow, allowing attendees to pay their final respects.

“We are heartbroken and devastated by the loss of Vice Mayor Metayer,” said Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook. “Nancy led with grace, conviction, and an unwavering belief in the power of community.”

City officials described her legacy as one rooted in compassion, service and a deep love for the people she served. They are encouraging residents to honor her memory by continuing her work – uplifting others, creating opportunities and fostering inclusive communities.

Metayer was found dead from a gunshot last Wednesday, April 1st, at her home in the 800 block of Northwest 127th Avenue while officers were conducting a welfare check.  Her husband, Stephen Bowen, has been charged with premeditated murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. 

He is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail. 

First elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Metayer Bowen was serving her second term as vice mayor. She made history as the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission.

An environmental scientist by training, she earned degrees from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her work spanned environmental advocacy, disaster relief, and community development, including service on the Broward County Commission on the Status of Women and other advisory boards.

She focused on economic growth, public safety, and sustainability, while also serving as Vice Chair of Haitian Outreach for the Florida Democratic Party.

Tributes have poured in across the community, with a growing memorial outside City Hall and a peace march held near the Coral Springs Museum of Art. The Florida Panthers also honored her during an April 2 game.

“Vice Mayor Metayer Bowen was a light in the Haitian community and a true champion for immigrants,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Her advocacy was not performative – it was rooted in lived experience, empathy, and an unwavering belief in the dignity of all people. We have lost not only a partner in this work, but a dear friend. Her legacy will continue to inspire us to fight for justice, humanity, and the protection of immigrant communities everywhere.”

“She meant the best for the city,” said Commissioner Joseph McHugh, while Mayor Scott Brook noted the community is seeking solace through unity.

Her family described her as a leader who “led with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering sense of purpose,” adding that her legacy will live on in the lives she touched.

Her death comes months after the loss of her younger brother, deepening the tragedy for a grieving family now calling for privacy and prayers. For many, Metayer Bowen represented progress – proof that Caribbean roots and public leadership can intersect powerfully.