Law alumna who dedicated her life to civic leadership has died

Law alumna and civic leader Cheryl Teamer, who rose from the ranks of law student to lead the legislative affairs office of former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, has died.

Teamer was 58.

A 1989 Tulane Law graduate, Teamer was a long-time fixture in New Orleans’ political circles, having worked in the legislature just out of law school before joining the Morial administration, first as a chief lobbyist and later as head of his intergovernmental affairs office.

She also was passionate about civic involvement, and served on or chaired numerous boards, including the New Orleans Aviation Board and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Teamer was a native of New Orleans and the daughter of Charles Teamer, the first Black member of the Dock Board and a senior vice president of Dillard University. Her mother, Mary Teamer, was founder and 23-year head coach of Dillard’s championship women’s basketball team.

She graduated from Spellman College before attending Tulane Law School. She was a member of the Moot Court program and took part in the Inn of Court, among other activities.

After law school, she became a staff attorney in the state House of Representatives. Morial, then a state legislator, hired her when he became New Orleans mayor. After serving eight years in the administration, Teamer went on to work at Adams & Reese, specializing in governmental affairs.

She later joined Harrah’s Entertainment as its Regional Vice President for Government Relations. In 2009, she founded Teamer Strategy Group, her own company dedicated to advocacy, business development, event coordination, government relations, project management, and strategic planning.

Perhaps her most notable trait was her intense passion for public service; throughout her life, she was active in many civic and charitable organizations.

She was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Greater New Orleans. She was on the Board of Directors of the Louis Armstrong International Airport, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Young Audiences and Second Harvest Food Bank.

She also served on a variety of boards including the Chamber of Commerce for New Orleans and the River Region, Audubon Institute, Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus Corporate Advisory Board, Ursuline Academy Alumnae Association, Louisiana Mental Health Association, Louisiana Make a Wish Foundation, Southern Eye Bank, and the First Grace Community Alliance.