Candlelight Vigil for Nancy Metayer Bowen in Coral Springs

A candlelight vigil honoring the life of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen is scheduled for Friday evening at Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 W. Sample Rd. The public memorial follows a week of grief that swept through Broward County after the 38-year-old public servant was found dead Wednesday at her home.

Attendees are encouraged to bring white candles and wear or carry something in orange or green, the colors of Florida A&M University, where Metayer Bowen earned her undergraduate degree in environmental science, regulation and policy.

Coral Springs Police confirmed the case as a domestic violence-related homicide after conducting a wellness check prompted by a friend who had been unable to reach her. Her husband, Stephen Bowen, 40, was apprehended in Plantation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He is being held without bond on charges of premeditated murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. A police report indicates Metayer Bowen died from shotgun wounds.

The loss is being felt far beyond Coral Springs City Hall. Metayer Bowen had built a career defined by firsts. She won a seat on the Coral Springs Commission in 2020, becoming the first Black and Haitian American woman elected to the body. A first-generation American of Haitian descent, she had arrived in public life with an environmental science background and a master of environmental health sciences from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and she brought both to her work on regional boards focused on housing, climate, and education.

Before her time on the commission, she served on the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District. Once in office, she advanced initiatives tied to economic development, small-business support, and youth programs. She was re-elected unopposed in 2024.

Her reach extended well beyond municipal government. She worked on Haiti relief efforts, held roles with what is now Florida Rising, and during the 2024 election cycle served as Florida Caribbean Vote Director for the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and, later, Kamala Harris. The Florida Democratic Party named her Vice Chair of Haitian American Voter Engagement, and colleagues widely regarded her as a rising leader with broader political ambitions ahead of her.

In a statement shared online, the Metayer family described the weight of their loss. “She was not only a cherished member of our family but also a dedicated public servant who committed her life to improving the lives of others,” the family wrote. “Throughout her years in public office, she led with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering sense of purpose. She believed in bringing people together, listening to those she served, and working tirelessly to create positive change in her community. To us, she was a source of strength, wisdom, and love.”

Metayer Bowen was 38 years old.

Friday’s vigil offers the community a formal moment to gather. Coral Springs City Hall sits on W. Sample Road, and organizers have made the event open to anyone who wants to attend. The orange and green color request reflects the pride Metayer Bowen carried for her FAMU roots throughout her career.

Domestic violence resources are available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. The Broward County Crisis Line can be reached at 954-467-7575.

The criminal case against Stephen Bowen remains active.