Lana Felton-Ghee, 66, community organizer and politcal operator.
She had a knack for bringing people from around the city to cultural events.
THE WORD around Philadelphia's political, government and community circles was "Let Lana do it."
"If you want it done right, let Lana do it," was the cry.
And whatever it was, no one would doubt that Lana Felton-Ghee would not only get it done, but that it would be done the best that anyone could do it.
That ranged from political campaigns to civic celebrations, as well as cultural and a vast variety of community events, ranging from the 1976 Bicentennial ceremony, lighting the Christmas tree in City Hall, bringing people from around the world for the nation's largest Independence Day observance, the city's ceremony for the canonization of Mother Katharine Drexel, and much more.
"She was the go-to person if you wanted to get something done," said W. Wilson Goode Sr., who hired her as deputy city representative when he was mayor (1984-1992). "Let Lana do it, and it would be done right. She was a superb organizer and communicator, results-oriented, someone you could always depend on."
Lana Felton-Ghee, who died Sunday at age 66, "is irreplaceable," Goode said. "I've never seen one person over the decades who was so effective and so efficient.
"She was a friend and supporter. My heart grieves for a lost treasure."
Lana Jean Felton-Ghee, who died of complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), was a native Philadelphian who loved her city. She grew up in North Philadelphia and later lived in Overbrook.
"She expressed a profound love of her hometown and acted as an unofficial ambassador and cheerleader, often pronouncing to anyone in earshot, 'There is no place like Philadelphia,' " said her niece Kenya Felton.
Mayor Nutter said Lana "spent her life dedicated to public service, her family and her business. She will be greatly missed."
"She built a career on her own, starting from scratch," her niece said. "She pulled herself up by her own bootstraps. She was an advocate for women and minority-owned businesses. She was a great connector of people. It was important to her to reach out to neighborhoods to get residents involved, not only in politics, but some of the rich cultural opportunities throughout the city."
Lana, who ran her own public-relations business, Lana Felton-Ghee Associates, before her retirement last year, made history in 1999 when she became one of the first African-American women to run a successful mayoral campaign, when she was campaign manager for John Street.
She also worked with Goode's mayoral campaign, the mayoral run of Ed Rendell and the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign.
Among her positions over the years was executive director of Local 1199C of the Hospital Workers Union and vice president of government affairs for Health Partners.
She was born in Philadelphia to Howard and Vivian Henry. She attended Germantown High School and went on to Temple University, where she received a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Her first major event was the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, which she helped produce as a member of the production team. This work caught the attention of other event producers, nonprofit agencies and politicians who used her organizational expertise and her people skills.
She spearheaded the Philadelphia Freedom Festival, which became Welcome America!
Her first political campaign was that of the late Dave Richardson, running for state representative in the early '70s.
She was an active member of True Light Fellowship Church in Mount Airy.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Ghee; four children, Petra, Shedrick, Kevin and Theron Ghee, and 10 grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 W. Lehigh Ave.