Columbia Standard

Former secretary of state, Colin Powell, has died of COVID-19 complications and Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin took to Twitter to offer his condolences and describe what Powell meant to him.

Powell did have underlying conditions as he had been treated for multiple myeloma, a cancer of blood cells, that compromises the immune system, and had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and was scheduled to get a the COVID booster shot before becoming ill, according to ABC News.   

“An amazing role model to those of us who aspired to public service, Secretary Powell’s presence was both humbling and humble,” Benjamin tweeted. “He will (be) sorely missed by a nation who loved him.”

Benjamin finished his tweet with the Bible passage 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Powell served as top of the national security establishment for four presidents, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, beginning as deputy national security adviser and then as national security adviser, according to MSN.

Powell, was the first African American ever to hold that post and the first Black secretary of state, was also chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior ranking member of the U.S. armed forces and top military adviser to the president, according to MSN.