July 3 is a day to be remembered by those who observed inaugural festivities for Jackson’s third-term mayor, the Honorable Harvey Johnson Jr.
The 8 a.m. prayer service at north Jackson’s New Hope Baptist Church brought races, cultures, and religions together. Amid scriptures cited by various religious leaders, New Hope’s pastor, Dr. Jerry Young, said before the large crowd, “The mayor has brought all of us together, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims.”
The cry for unification continued the rest of the day and evening at the Jackson Convention Complex where Mayor Johnson and the City Council took their oaths of office.
Choke Lumumba, Ward 2, and Tony T. Yarber, Ward 6, are newly elected councilmen. Returning members are Jeff Weill, Sr., Ward 1; Kenneth I. Stokes, Ward 3; Frank Bluntson, Ward 4, Charles Tillman, Ward 5; and Margaret C. Barrett-Simon, Ward 7.
During his address, Johnson mentioned some of Jackson’s familiar thorns (sewer problems, dropout rate, crime, poverty, neglected elders) that he would like to disappear. Considerably, he appealed to the people to move his dream to reality: “Let us pledge today to work together toward a goal of renewal. We must renew our hopes and dreams for our city. We must renew our commitment to face the hard times ahead and we must renew our faith in one another and in our ability to tackle the difficult problems.”
He referred to Jackson as “a city of hope and optimism, of challenges overcome.” To forge ahead, he called for citizens to “pledge to write a new chapter.” The new chapter involved a new spirit and an elevated status. He reminded the crowd that the inauguration symbolized “the first step in the new journey of Jackson.”
Reacting to Johnson’s address, Hinds County Supervisor George Smith said, “I think that these subjects are great. Mayor Johnson kept stressing that we got to get city people to make it happen. We as citizens got to take stake in our community and to do what we need to [do] to assist [him]. If we do that, we’ll see a much better city in the near future.”
City employees Gloria Williams and Trena Yarber said they are looking forward to the “cooperative spirit” to shape Jackson.
In response to his successor’s stance, former City Councilman Marshand Crisler said, “I have faith that he will do what he has pledged to do. I think the people want stability, and I’ve pledged to work with him to move Jackson ahead and to get it to the prominence it once had decades ago.”
The evening’s gala, mixed with entertainment by Eddie Cotton, Coup-D-Bell, and Mississippi Sonatra and a complimentary celebration buffet and cash bar, was perfect for continued conversations about Johnson’s concerns.
Joan Williams, local business owner, remarked, “It’s important to stay focused on the upgrading of the city and making it what it should be. As the seasons change, so does time.”
Long-time Jackson residents Luther and Georgia Bates see Johnson as “a compliment for the City” and “a great listener [who] interacts with people on all levels, classes, and races.”
Added Georgia Bates, “He has the same kind of expertise as President Obama who is making America a good place to live. Mayor Johnson is making Jackson [that way]. He’s tactful and unafraid. He’s a man that respects individual differences and yet is capable of bringing about unity in his dealings with people.”
A Jackson resident for more than 40 years, Representative Alyce Clarke said, “I was quite impressed with the inaugural event. The breakfast was beautiful. The inaugural activities were great. In my opinion, if we could do half of the things that he envisioned, we can see a change in Jackson. It takes all of us working together to make a difference. I’m hoping that those of us who have moved out will come back and shop in Jackson to make it the kind of city that it can be.”
See highlights on page 4.
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