Former White House butler dies of coronavirus

Wilson Roosevelt Jerman, a former White House butler serving under 11 U.S. presidents, has died after contracting the coronavirus, local media reported Thursday.

Jerman, aged 91, began working at the White House in 1957 under then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a cleaner, according to a CNN report.

His granddaughter, Shanta Taylor Gay, told CNN on Thursday that Jerman died on May 16.

He was promoted to butler under former President John F. Kennedy, a move that was orchestrated by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, granddaughter Jamila Garrett told FOX 5.

Jerman initially retired from the White House in 1997 but went back in 2003. He left the White House in 2012 as maitre d' under then-President Barack Obama, said local media reports, noting he was one of the White House's longest-serving employees.