Decatur Mayor Helps Launch Task Force To Honor John Lewis

DECATUR, GA — Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett and DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson signed a joint declaration forming the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force.

The task force will hold its first meeting on Wednesday.

It will have six months to make a recommendation as to the best way to commemorate the life of the late Congressman Lewis in DeKalb County.

“What an honor it was to join Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson to sign the declaration establishing the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force,” said Mayor Garrett in a news release. “John Lewis was an inspiration and voice of hope for all and his legacy lives on to instill a vigilant expectant hope to this generation of young advocates of good trouble.”

Davis Johnson said that Lewis was “a giant of a man, with a humble heart. He met no strangers and he truly was a man who loved the people and who loved his country which he represented very well. He deserves this honor.”

Members were appointed by Commissioner Davis Johnson, Mayor Garrett and Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, presiding officer of DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

The members, who represent a diverse intersection of various sectors of the county,
include:

Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, ex officio
DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader, ex officio
DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, ex officio
Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett
Attorney Juanita Powell Baranco
Former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis
Decatur Commissioner George Dusenbury
Former DeKalb County Commissioner Gail Waldorff
Mrs. Heather Fenton
Attorney Brian Werthiem
Ms. Audrey Maloof
Ms. Teresa Hardy
Mr. Eric Ellis
Avondale Estates Mayor Jonathan Elmore
Attorney Mawuli Davis
Rev. Dr. Emory Berry
Ms. Jan Selman
Dr. Thomas L. Coleman
Dr. Ed. Lee III
Mrs. Karima Jones
Ms. Melissa Carlson Forgey
Dr. Sharon Hill
Mr. William Cook
Ms. Sherry King
Angie Macon