Decatur Veteran’s Rock photo courtesy of Chris

Like Brothers We Meet

George Moses Horton

The Episcopal News Service is reporting that Reverand Sipo Elijah Mzimela “a leader in the struggle to end apartheid and a cabinet minister of former South African President Nelson Mandela, died Feb. 2 from complications of pneumonia.”  More recently, Rev. Mzimela was the owner and operated the African Arts store, Pambili, in the Artisan building in Downtown Decatur until it closed in 2010.

According to the Episcopal News Service, “the funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Bishop of Atlanta Robert Wright will preside.”

Read more about Reverand Mzimela’s extraordinary life over on the ENS website.  (The AJC once had a great interview with Rev. Mzimela on its website at one point years ago, but it looks like it’s no longer available unfortunately).

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

Former DHS football coach Warren Vicknair died Tuesday from complications due to organ failure. His obituary is featured today in the AJC. Although not mentioned in the article, Coach Vicknair led DHS football several years in the late 1970s. In his first year (1976), Redan came to play us in the old stadium. Both teams were undefeated and ranked in the top ten. I remember future NFL great Kevin Butler kicking a 50-yard plus field goal during the game for Redan. The game was a Redan blowout but for a time that season, Decatur football returned to a level that reminded many of the glory years of the 50s and 60s. I know Coach Vicknair was proud of that season.

My own relationship with Coach Vicknair began at Saint Pius. I was in his 10th grade math class but more memorable was his coaching my junior varsity basketball team in 1969. During a game at Greater Atlanta Christian school, one of their players (Tindal Chatman) scored 57 points. This was quite afeat as there were no three-point baskets (if so, he would have scored 60). After the game, Coach Vicknair sat stunned in the locker room and asked me, “Chris, how do we let a player score 57 points?” More than 40 years later, I still wonder about how he did it.

The last time I saw Coach Vicknair was at a DHS football game maybe 10 years ago. He was the clock referee. 70 years old and he was walking up all those stadium steps to work the clock. I remember him saying that he still loved being a referee. “Great seeing you Chris. Tell your mama (who worked with Warren at Pi Hi for many years) I said hello.”

Very few in Decatur will remember Warren but there are thousands of former students, players, coaches, and referees who remember him for his dedication to education and athletics. God Speed.

City Manager Peggy Merriss just sent us info about some ways to remember and pay tribute to Decatur’s recently departed, dear friend Alma Fleetwood in the coming days.

Funeral Home – Donald Trimble Mortuary, 2nd Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30032

• · Viewing on Thursday, March 24, 2011 – all day
• · Wake, Friday, March 25, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Funeral Home

The funeral will be on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2677 Pharr Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30317.

• · Viewing will be available at 10:00am.
• · The service will be at 1:00pm.
• · Burial will be at Lincoln Cemetery, 2275 Joseph Boone Blvd., Atlanta, Georgia 30314

Cards can be sent to:

• Horace Fleetwood & Family
• 1017 South McDonough Street
• Decatur, GA 30030

Alma Hour Memorial – Saturday March 26, 2011 from 7:00pm–8:00pm, Decatur Square

You are welcome to join the Decatur Community in sharing your thoughts, stories and remembrances of Alma at the Bandstand. You can provide a written message for the family, light a memorial candle and/or make a donation towards the purchase of a bench to be installed on the Square in Alma’s honor.

If you can’t make it by the Alma Hour, donations towards the bench can be made to “The City of Decatur” (please note in the for line: Alma’s Bench) and sent to: City Manager’s Office, City of Decatur, PO Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031.

I’ve been informed of some very sad news this morning.  The City of Decatur’s well-loved PALS Supervisor Alma Fleetwood died last night due to a respiratory illness.

Back in 2005, Ms. Fleetwood received the City of Decatur’s Thomas O. Davis Public Servant award for her service to the community.  Though a few years old, the award write-up provides an excellent description of Ms. Fleetwood’s deep and continued involvement in the Decatur community.  She will be sorely missed by many, many people.

The Decatur Business Association presented the fifth annual Thomas O. Davis Public Servant award to Alma Fleetwood. Alma has been employed by the City of Decatur since April 1997 – first as a school crossing guard, later as a parking attendant and currently as the PALS supervisor.

Alma serves as a good role model to her staff. She is quick to identify problems and issues and offer suggestions and solutions. In a difficult job, she maintains her composure and uses her communication skills to positively resolve problems. She is eager to learn and is currently enrolled in the University of Georgia Management Development Program.

A resident of Decatur, Alma has volunteered at College Heights Elementary School, has served as a block captain and as president of the College Heights Neighborhood Association. She currently serves on the board of the South Decatur Community Development Corporation and she regularly assists with a number of community special events, including the Arts Festival, the Beach Party, the Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival and many others. She is enthusiastic in her support of the community and can be relied upon to take a leadership role.

Alma is a dedicated mother and grandmother. Her family is important to her and she can be counted on to be supportive – whether it’s attending a Decatur High football game or driving across the state for a cheerleading competition.

Photo: Alma Fleetwood (right), City Manager Peggy Merris (center), then-DBA President Frank Cavalii (left)