Florence lay on her intensive care bed, covered in blankets.

Her grandchildren watched as the nurse took off their grandmothers ventilator.

They were saying goodbye, How we love you.

Less than 24 hours later, Florence Bolton, who was 86 was pronounced dead.

Florence is one of the over 300,000 people to die from the coronavirus in the United States behind each death.

Ah, person with a family and a story.

She was married to her husband, Raymond DeWitt, Bolton senior for over 60 years, and in 1974 they became the first African American couple to join the previously all white Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Florence was so beloved in her local community on the south side of Chicago, her church, which closed last year, reopened just for her funeral.

At her eulogy, the former pastor, Steve Warren, wept.

So last night I dress adult.

Oh, I had to dress off for the last.

It came to my man that I'm doing it for the woman and the couple, who were the very first black family in this congregation.

Florence, who taught special education for decades all while being diagnosed, is legally blind at first tested negative for co vid.

But weeks later, with symptoms worsening, she then tested positive.

Florence's grandson, Sammy, said his phone has been ringing off the hook since her death, but state regulations meant attendance at the viewing and funeral were sparse.

The family was left on Lee to imagine people in lines out the doors as they should have been waiting to pay their respects.