Parker was the first African-American woman to serve as mayor.
Mayor Lizette Parker. (Teaneck Township) UPDATE: Teaneck mayor died after respiratory issues, official says
TEANECK -- Mayor Lizette Parker has died.
Michael Pagan, a spokesman for Bergen County, where Parker worked, confirmed the death on Facebook Sunday.
Parker died at Holy Name Hospital. She was 44. The cause of death was unclear, but Pagan said Parker had previously suffered from cancer.
"Everybody in town is really broken up about this," Pagan told NJ Advance Media.
Parker became the first African-American woman in Bergen County to serve as a mayor in 2014, the Record reported. She has served on the Township Council since 2006 and worked at the county Board of Social Service since 1992, according to her LinkedIn page.
"She was blessed with a loving family a daughter who I know meant the world to her, achievement in her professional life, both at the social services department and her political life, becoming the mayor of one of the premier towns in Bergen County," state Sen. Loretta Weinberg said.
"I'm devastated by this loss," said Clara Williams, a member of the Teaneck Board of Education.
Parker is survived by her husband Tony and a young daughter.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.