The gesture became a signature of the longtime Oak Cliff activist, who spent decades encouraging people to get involved and vote.

On Tuesday, Dallas County commissioners approved honoring Collins by naming a room at the Oak Cliff Government Center after her. It’s a move meant to preserve her connection to the building where she spent years helping residents participate in civic life.

“She loved democracy,” said Commissioner Elba Garcia, whose office requested the dedication and whose district includes the building. “She was always asking people to vote and her precinct was right there at the building.”

The commissioners’ approval means a first-floor conference room at the government center, 702 E. Jefferson Blvd., will be renamed the “Sylvia Collins Community Room.” The room is used for public meetings and community-related activities.

Garcia said Collins’ impact reached beyond Oak Cliff because of her work with numerous community organizations and her commitment to civic engagement. She was a Dallas County Democratic Party precinct chair and was involved with organizations like the League of United Latin American Citizens and the 23rd Senatorial District Tejano Democrats.

Frances Rizo, another longtime community leader and friend of Collins, said the activist was deserving of the honor, known for being humble and selfless in helping the community.

“If there was ever a human being in our lifetime that merited naming a community room in a county building, it was certainly Sylvia Collins,” Rizo said.

Before the vote, Commissioner John Wiley Price supported recognizing Collins, but questioned whether the county had clear standards for naming spaces after community members.

“What is the criteria?” Price asked, later saying he was “having some real trepidation” about the vote.

“At what point in time do we begin to measure and decide who gets a room named after them?”

A naming ceremony is expected during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, pending the availability of Collins’ family, elected officials and the facility.