Kentuckians remember Gov. Martha Layne Collins at Old State Capitol building

Kentucky dignitaries lined up to pay their respects to trailblazing Governor Martha Layne Collins, the commonwealth’s first and only woman governor.

Sunday afternoon, the First Family and hundreds of others arrived outside the Old State Capitol in Frankfort to attend the memorial for Collins, who died Nov. 1.

She was 88 years old. Collins’ public visitation ceremony was held Sunday in the old Capitol building, as hundreds crowded inside to pay their respects.

Known as lying in state, the tradition involves publically displaying the coffin in a prominent government building. Other Kentuckians to lie in state included pioneer Daniel Boone, former Chief Justice Robert Stephens, Col. Harland Sanders, and numerous governors.

Collins was the first person to lie in state at the Old Capitol building, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The ceremony was held there because the State Capitol building is under renovation.

Her casket was shrouded in the state flag, with white roses, lilies and orchids. Her official portrait hung above the coffin, decked with a black cloth. People were let in the building one by one, with a line from the door to the casket.

Of the nearly 200 seats, several were saved for the First Family, former Gov. Steve Beshear, former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Lt. Gov Jacqueline Coleman, and members of Toyota corporation.

Collins, a Democrat, was the 56th Governor of the commonwealth, serving from December 1983 to December 1987. She is remembered for becoming Kentucky’s first, and so far only, woman governor, and recruiting the massive Toyota manufacturing plant to Central Kentucky.

The governor’s father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, was lieutenant governor under Collins.

Gov. Andy Beshear spoke first during Collins’ memorial service, highlighting her groundbreaking career dedicated to teaching. Collins, he said, continued that work in the governor’s office, launching the Governors School of the Arts in 1987, which promotes students’ artistic endeavors in summer programs.

Larry Hayes, the secretary of Collins’ cabinet, said the former governor demanded excellence from her staff, as well.

“You’ve heard about the accomplishments, but they didn’t come by themselves,” Hayes said. “She demanded a lot from people. She taught you that you need to do it right, and be of service to other people. She had an amazing way to communicate to others at the worst of times that impacted them in a positive way.”

Beyond her recruitment of Toyota, Collins is remembered for chairing the Democratic National Convention in 1984, which led to speculation that she could have been a candidate for vice president, and her many electoral victories. Collins defeated giants of Kentucky Republican politics, winning her lieutenant governor position against the current Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Hal Rogers, and defeating late U.S. Senator Jim Bunning.

This story was originally published November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM.

Taylor Six

Lexington Herald-Leader

Taylor Six is the criminal justice reporter at the Herald-Leader. She was born and raised in Lexington attending Lafayette High School. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She previously worked as the government reporter for the Richmond Register.