A Houston judge, who was elected in November as part of a 'Black Girl Magic' campaign along with 16 other women, has died of pancreatic cancer.
Cassandra Hollemon, 57, passed away on Monday at around 1am, surrounded by family and friends, at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, Fox News reported.
Her children said she only found out about the cancer last week.
'Once she found it (the cancer), it took her and it just progressed,' Brandon Hollemon, Cassandra's son, said. 'There was no time. It was very aggressive. Cancer sucks.'
Hollemon presided over Harris County Criminal Court of Law 12 since January 1, when she was sworn in by newly elected Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
'Finally reaching this, then getting this devastating news, it’s just heartbreaking,' her son said.
Judge Cassandra Hollemon, 57 (pictured), who was elected in November as part of a 'Black Girl Magic' campaign along with 16 other black women in Houston's Harris County, has died
'She turned out to have blood clots in her lungs, pulmonary embolisms which was caused by the pancreatic cancer,' her daughter, Brandy Hollemon, said.
Hollemon was told she had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in early February, after being misdiagnosed with chronic bronchitis in December, her children said.
'We are saddened by the passing of Judge Cassandra Y. Hollemon,' her fellow Harris County misdemeanor Judge Darrell Jordan told the Houston Chronicle. 'She was a compassionate judge who treated one in a respectful manner.'
Before her election, Holloman had been practicing law for over 22 years, according to her campaign materials, shared on Facebook.
She graduated from the South Texas College of Law in 1994, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies from the University of St. Thomas.
One of Hollemon's campaign slogans was, 'Standing for fair, equal and unbiased justice for ALL,' and said she wanted to 'transform lives.'
Her reasons for seeking an elected position included, 'fair treatment for the mentally challenged, seeking truth regardless of one's job or title, ruling without prejudice or bias,' and 'alternative sentencing terms that are manageable and purposeful.'
Hollemon presided over Harris County Criminal Court of Law 12 since January 1, when she was sworn in by newly elected Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Hollemon's reasons for seeking an elected position included, 'fair treatment for the mentally challenged, seeking truth regardless of one's job or title, ruling without prejudice or bias,' and 'alternative sentencing terms that are manageable and purposeful'
During her brief time on the bench, Hollemon left a lasting mark on the community with
