Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey
Former Deputy Speaker Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey, 83, departed this earthly life on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Marie, affectionately known as “Cookie”, lived in Hartford most of her life. She attended and graduated from the New Britain school system. She worked at the Aetna for over 20 years retiring as a Senior Actuary. Her most beloved job was being the State Representative for the 5th Assembly District where she did her best work. She was extremely proud of her Cape Verdean heritage.
Marie was a member of many organizations such as the Hartford Democratic Town Committee, the NAACP, and was a Justice of the Peace to just name a few.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Lopez and Catherine Ann (Kiki) Lopez; her loving husband, William James Kirkley-Bey; son, Federick Howard Martin, Jr.; grandson Caleb Martin, and son-in-law, Charles Terry, III.
She leaves a cherished legacy of community service to her family through her daughters, Lisa Martin, Kelly Kirkley-Bey and daughter in-law, Bettie Martin; her grandchildren: Monika, Patrice, Renee, Sugie, Connor, Etta, and a host of nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren.
Kirkley-Bey was the first woman of color to be appointed as Deputy Majority Leader and later as Deputy Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Prior to her service in the Connecticut House of Representatives, Kirkley served on the Hartford Court of Council as a member of the reform orientated People for Change party. She served in the Legislature for ten terms between 1993 and 2013 and the Hartford City Council for two terms between 1987 and 1991. During her twenty years of service to the state, Kirkley Bey focused on working families and the state’s most vulnerable residents, championing legislation to improve educational opportunities for all children, fully fund summer youth employment programs, improve the availability of affordable housing, feed the hungry and to reform the judicial system.