By Marcia Carter –  

The family of Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush’s administration and the first Black national security adviser under President Ronald Reagan’s administration, has died at age 84.

Powell’s family in a statement on Facebook said, “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.”

Powell died Monday at Walter Reed National Medical Center due to complications from COVID-19, his family said.

From 1960 to 1962, he served as the liaison officer, executive officer, and commander of Company A, 1st Battle Group, 4th Infantry, 2d Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.