LANSING, Mich. (WXMI/WXYZ) — Former State Sen. Morris Hood III died Monday from COVID-19. He was 54.
Hood, a Democrat from Detroit, served in the State Senate from 2011 through 2018 and in the State House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008. He was most recently director of government affairs for Wayne County.
His father, Morris Hood Jr., served in the Michigan House for more than two decades.
Hood had underlying health conditions following a kidney transplant, as well as diabetes, according to Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) today.
Hood was in the ICU for some time and began to recover. However, Ananich said Hood's condition worsened, and he "spent significant time" on a ventilator.
“Today, my thoughts are with the friends, family, colleagues and countless individuals mourning the loss of former Sen. Morris Hood III," House Democratic Leader Christine Greig (Farmington Hills) said.
"Former Sen. Hood served our state with tenacity and passion, earning a reputation of kindness and the admiration of most everyone who had the pleasure of working with him. We lost him much too soon. I offer my deepest condolences to all who knew and cared for him during this difficult time.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tweeted a photo today of her standing with Morris:
Mo was a dear friend. He was a proud Detroiter and continued the family commitment to the service of his community. There was not a more loyal friend, thoughtful advisor or quicker wit. My love and prayers go to his beloved family and many friends who grieve this tough loss. pic.twitter.com/D3EEtdXJXN
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) May 12, 2020
Both Democrats and Republicans took a moment to remember Hood today on the Senate floor.
Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland):
“While we fight and we dispute and we discuss, this floor, each member is a family member that will remain in history, Lord. And we just thank you for this opportunity. We ask that you be with one of our former family members, Lord. Morris Hood. As he’s now joined you. We just ask that you be with his family to remember the amazing things, the amazing passion that he represented and spoke so often on the Senate floor.”
Ananich added:
“Mo was always the one that no matter what was going on, no matter how heated the moment was, would push that white button and stand up and remind us to hug our loved ones. This was not personal. Remember, no matter what, it may be a virtual one now or an elbow bump, but let’s remember that we’re all human beings, that we all have family that we love, and we’re in a stressful time. And if we remember, to go home and hug our loved ones, to pray for each other at night, if that’s what you believe in, and remember the memory of Mo Hood before we do things, I think we’ll all be better people for it."
Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. (D-East Lansing):
"My friend Morris Hood would often stand at this podium and remind us all that tomorrow is never promised and for many people, that can sound like a slogan. Like something you’d see on a poster somewhere. But for Morris, he lived that every single day.
"Morris was a legend. He got up and talked about workers’ rights and loved schoolteachers. When he was in the hospital, the biggest thing that he lamented was he couldn’t be in session. because we were talking about teachers’ pensions and how important that was to him.
“He’s so legendary that after today, he will be the first person in Michigan Senate history to get two moments of silence. My good friend Coleman Young stood up on the Senate floor while he was in surgery and gave him a moment of silence then. We had to remind Coleman after that’s not how it works. But he’ll be the first person to ever have that experience.”