M. Athalie Range

Athalie Wilkinson graduated from all-black Booker T. Washington High School in Overtown, Miami.

During World War II Athalie Range found work cleaning trash from railroad cars.

Athalie Range then enrolled in the New England Institute of Anatomy and Embalming and obtained her funeral director certification so that she could operate the family business.

[3][4][2] In 1948 Athalie Range became president of the Parent Teacher Association at her children's school, Liberty City Elementary.

Althalie Range continued to serve as President of school and county-wide PTAs for sixteen years.

[3][4][2] In 1965 Alice Wainwright, who was the first woman to serve on the Miami City Commission, decided to not seek re-election.

[3][5][2] In 1966 one of the city commissioners resigned his seat, possibly with the encouragement of Miami Mayor Robert King High.

[3][6][2] Range approached City Manager Melvin Reese about having an African-American police officer assigned to motorcycle patrol.

When Reese resisted, Range made a deal with Mayor High; her vote for buying the land for the proposed Alice Wainwright Park in exchange for an African-American motorcycle patrolman.

The first African-American motorcycle patrolman in Miami was Robert Ingraham, who later became Chief of Police and then Mayor of Opa-locka, Florida[7] When asked about her accomplishments in office, Range said, "There were so many inequities in those days that you could just reach out and pick something and change it.

"[3] In 1971 newly elected Florida Governor Reubin Askew appointed Athalie Range as Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs.

President Carter later appointed Range to a two-year term on the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) governing board.