March 29, 2025
Former Mayor Shirley C. Franklin is being honored by town of Atlanta.
Shirley C. Franklin, Atlanta’s first Black lady mayor, was celebrated with a avenue and park named in her honor.
The Atlanta Metropolis Council shared the occasion on its YouTube web page. Previously a part of Central Avenue, the road is now Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard S.W. Moreover, Westside Reservoir Park has been renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.
A distinguished panel of company gathered to have a good time town’s 58th mayor and history-maker. Notable Atlanta figures, together with Mayor Andre Dickens, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Younger, and information anchor Fred Blankenship, gave remarks. Robert Franklin Jr., president of Morehouse School, lauded the previous mayor for her service and supplied a brief prayer for her and people who will journey on her avenue.
“Her service has been exemplary. Her decision has been commanding, and her love for all Atlantans has been inspiring,” Franklin Jr. stated. “Could all who tread right here study of her nice contributions and turn out to be higher residents. Could all who journey right here really feel her contagious spirit of humility, service, and community-building. Could the wings of the phoenix now unfold broad over this boulevard and remodel this acquainted path into sacred floor.”
The previous Westside Reservoir Park acquisition was one in every of Franklin’s crowning achievements throughout her time period. The acquisition was a part of Franklin’s “Clear Water Atlanta initiative.” Atlanta’s emergency ingesting water provide is now housed on the park that now bears her identify. She is lauded for launching the Atlanta BeltLine, which is dwelling to many small companies.
Franklin spoke on the ceremony with humility. She defined that her imaginative and prescient motivated her and emphasised that in search of validation and accolades yields little reward.
“I discovered a very long time in the past, you don’t do the work for the accolades or the popularity. You do the work since you love the work, since you love the individuals and since you’re taken by a imaginative and prescient,” Franklin stated.
Franklin broke the glass ceiling for Black girls in Atlanta together with her mayoral election and set the usual for giving again to one of many South’s main cities. At 79 years previous, she is now receiving her flowers. Kudos to town of Atlanta for recognizing its hometown icon.
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