On Wednesday afternoon, Melvin Lee “Kip” Holden returned to City Hall in the heart of Baton Rouge — one final time.
This time not to lead, but to be remembered.
The former parish mayor-president, who guided Louisiana’s capital city for 12 years between 2005 and 2016, died last week at the age of 72.
Holden, Baton Rouge’s first Black mayor, lay in state on the ground floor of City Hall, as the public, former colleagues and other officials gathered to pay tribute to a man elected mayor three times, and who represented Baton Rouge at the state capitol as a legislator for nearly two decades.
“He knew the weight of leadership, the long days, the sleepless nights, the balancing of vision with reality and the burden of making decisions that affect thousands of lives,” said former Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome. “But he also knew the joy of service … a community uplifted and a young person inspired to dream.”
The former mayor died in hospice last Wednesday after a lengthy illness.
Chief of Police Thomas Morse Jr., center, stands in front of City Hall with other service members during a memorial ceremony for Kip Holden, former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge, at City Hall on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
Outside City Hall, a 20-foot-by-30-foot American flag was hoisted between the ladders of two Baton Rouge Fire Department trucks.
Dozens walked beneath it and filled the first floor of City Hall, as past and present mayoral staffers, city-parish officials and employees, members of law enforcement joined to celebrate Holden’s life.
The man from Scotlandville
Though his time in Baton Rouge City Hall had its ups and downs, first as a Metro Council member and then as mayor-president, many spoke Wednesday of Holden’s triumphs as leader of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Remarks touched on what many see as Holden-era triumphs, like his co-founding of the Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination program or his leadership as the capitol city shouldered the weight of many displaced by Hurricane Katrina. And many spoke about the mayor’s love for Baton Rouge, and his deep-seated connection to his home on its north end.
Johnny G. Anderson, a member of U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields’ staff, said Holden “walked with kings” but never “lost his character,” telling those in attendance about his friend’s ever-present connection to Scotlandville.
“He continued to live in a place of his upbringing,” Anderson said. “A place called relentless, conquering, complex, aggressive, protective, hardcore, politically astute, visionary, calculated, confident, immersed, energy, excited, inspiring, persistent. All defines the man from Scotlandville who’d rather just be called ‘Kip.'”
Sharon Weston Broome speaks about her predecessor’s legacy during a memorial ceremony for Kip Holden, former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge, at City Hall on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
Next to Holden’s successor, Broome, was current Mayor-President Sid Edwards, who talked about the impact Holden had on him and other residents in Baton Rouge.
“He was a man that had a way of making other folks feel seen. Their problems and issues mattered to him. The people of Baton Rouge mattered to him,” Edwards said. “I can only hope and pray that I can be half the mayor that this man was.”
A Democrat, Holden assumed office at City Hall in 2005 after defeating Republican incumbent Mayor Bobby Simpson in a surprise victory after his campaign garnered major support from Baton Rouge’s business community. His three terms were bookended by two major disasters in Hurricane Katrina and the 2016 floods near the end.
Emphasizing tax breaks, Holden lured business to Baton Rouge’s downtown and played a major role in revitalizing it.
But his time leading Baton Rouge had its controversies too. There was a messy firing of Dewayne White, whom he appointed to police chief to reform the department. Holden later terminated him for “divisive” leadership in what many saw as a battle between White and the police union.
A family member holds tissues and a program during a memorial ceremony for Kip Holden, former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge, at City Hall on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
After Holden was term-limited, Broome was elected mayor-president in 2016. After news of Holden’s death broke last week, Broome talked about standing on his shoulders in following the first Black mayor’s footsteps, a sentiment she echoed at the ceremony Wednesday.
“I stand, not only as a successor, but as someone who recognizes the tremendous shoes he wore, and the great responsibility,” Broome said.
The former mayor spoke at length about her predecessor’s leadership and impact, and also thanked Holden’s family, in particular his wife Lois, for the sacrifices they made during his time in public office, telling them it “didn’t go unnoticed.”
“He fought for what he believed was right. He ran his race with endurance, and he kept the faith in God,” Broome said. “Rest well, Kip. Your race is finished, your service complete and your reward eternal.”
