Mayor Justin Wilson led the honors and presented Pepper with a plaque. He was joined by former mayors Jim Moran, Kerry Donley and Bill Euille.

Pepper was first elected to City Council in 1985 and three times served as vice mayor. Her tenure makes her the longest serving public official in Alexandria.

Originally from Nebraska, Pepper got her start in local politics while still in elementary school. She went door-to-door campaigning for her father, who was a longtime member of the Omaha City Council. She later managed a regional Democratic headquarters during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidential campaign.

Pepper and her husband, F.J. Pepper moved to Alexandria in 1968. They settled in the West End, where they still reside today.