Flags in South Florida and Tallahassee will fly at half-staff Friday in honor of late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen.
Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the flag-lowering in a memo to Florida Director of Real Estate Management and Development Brian Fienemann and Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook.
The order applies only to flags at the state capitol and all local and state buildings, installations and grounds in Coral Springs from sunrise to sunset.
DeSantis did not include a personal statement.
Metayer Bowen, 38, was widely regarded as a rising figure in Broward County politics. An environmental scientist by training, she was elected to the Coral Springs Commission in 2020, becoming the first Black and Haitian American woman to serve on the panel. She was re-elected without opposition in 2024 and appointed Vice Mayor later that year.
Her career included work on environmental and public health initiatives across Florida, as well as roles on local and state boards focused on sustainability, housing and civic engagement.
She was also active in Democratic politics, serving in leadership roles tied to Haitian American voter outreach and participating in presidential campaign efforts.
According to Coral Springs Police, Metayer Bowen was killed in an apparent domestic violence incident at her home on April 1. Officers conducting a wellness check found her deceased after city staff raised concerns when she failed to attend scheduled meetings and could not be reached.
Her husband, Stephen Bowen, was later taken into custody. He faces charges of premeditated murder and tampering with evidence.
An outpouring of grief followed Metayer Bowen’s death, with colleagues and community leaders remembering her as a compassionate public servant and a dedicated advocate for her community.
Last week, friends, family and supporters launched an endowment to preserve her legacy and support her loved ones.
