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May 16 will always be a "bittersweet" day for city council member Martha Castex-Tatum.
It would have been her predecessor, Larry Green's 56th birthday. After his unexpected death in 2018, Castex-Tatum respectively took Green's position.
Castex-Tatum represents District K on the Houston City Council. She initially assumed the office in 2018 after Green died from a toxic combination involving methamphetamine, according to ABC 13 Eyewitness News.
"Happy swearing-in day and Happy 56th birthday LG! I still believe God orchestrated that date to let me know everything would be ok. May 16 is always bittersweet but sweet nonetheless," Castex-Tatum said in a tweet.
Green was elected to the Houston City Council in 2012. A graduate of both University of Houston and Texas Southern University, Green was an attorney by profession, having formed his own practice, Larry V. Green & Associates, as stated on his LinkedIn profile.
In light of his passing, those who knew Green remembered all the notable things he did for the Houston community.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's statement at the time of Green's death still remains true, three years later.
"Councilman Green was a dedicated public servant who promoted economic development, planted trees, supported art and increased the number of projects throughout his district. That is how I will choose to remember him. More than anything, I ask people to continue to pray for his family, who must deal with his death every single day," he said, according to ABC 13 News.
Castex-Tatum has since won her own term in the 2019 Houston municipal elections. Shortly after, Turner and her fellow councilmembers unanimously named her vice mayor pro tem in early 2020.
"A staunch community advocate, Martha began her career in public service as the first African American female to serve on the San Marcos, Texas City Council. During her term she was elected by her colleagues to serve as deputy mayor pro-tem," according to her professional profile.