New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy returns home from Italy vacation to mourn Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
EAST ORANGE, N.J. -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy returned from Italy on Thursday, cutting his trip short in the wake of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver's death.
Murphy signed an executive order lowering the United States and state flags to half staff.
Only CBS New York's cameras were there as Murphy arrived at her family's East Orange home Thursday evening.
On Aug. 10, Oliver will lie in state at the rotunda of the New Jersey State Capitol. On Aug. 11, she will be transferred to the Essex County Historic Courthouse and lie in state there. The public are invited to pay their respects on those days.
Oliver's funeral will take place Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark in a private ceremony.
Hundreds of young people at a youth employment festival Thursday honored Oliver, who passed away this week.
The event was held in the city the 71-year-old lived for decades.
- Read More: New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver dies at 71
There was a moment of silence for Oliver at the East Orange Summer Work Experience Program, also known as SWEP.
Students said Oliver had an impact on their lives.
"I ask of all of you today to say her name, Sheila Oliver," Cicely Tyson Performing and Fine Arts student Kelvin Langevine, Jr. said. "Through her name we can do so much more."
"While we know it's a sad occasion for the departure of our queen, our shero, our local icon Sheila Oliver, this has turned into a celebration of her life," City Council Chairman Christopher Awe said.
Political leaders also paid tribute to Oliver, who lived in East Orange for decades.
East Orange Mayor Ted Green said he wouldn't be in his position if it weren't for Oliver's mentorship.
"When she came to East Orange, she was our lieutenant governor, but she became our mentor, she became our mom, she became a person where she never overlooked anybody," Green said.
The event was a finale to a six-week program where students got to learn all kinds of trades, including how to become an entrepreneur.
"This is my lemonade business. It's called 'Oasis,' and I started with the teen entrepreneurship program SWEP," 14-year-old Madison McZorn said. "I want to make my dreams a reality."
"My clothing line name is 'Munyun.' It's a slang word for money, and everybody around me always has money, wants money," 17-year-old Kwan Holmes said.
The summer employment program is also offering documentary, makeup, barbershop and magazine classes.
"They were able to put this together in less than five days. When I say we are so proud - they got to write, they got to talk," Tamika McReynolds, president and CEO of Teen Magazine, said.
Dr. Jamila Davis, one of the program leaders, turned her life around after serving a 12.5-year prison sentence for mortgage fruad.
"I never thought I would actually make it through that storm, but I promised God, I said, if you give me one more chance, this time I am going to get it right," Davis said.
The program's mission?
"We empower kids. We help to build their confidence. We show them their gifts and talents and what's possible," Davis said.
That's exactly what fellow political leaders said Oliver did.
