Saturday morning, November 3, passed quietly for most of the city. While citizens were either recovering from Dia de los Muertos festivities or busy preparing for Christmas Village, Disney on Ice, and the Moss Rock Festival, Oak Hill Cemetery readied the grounds for the family of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
The Civil Rights leader died on October 5, 2011 and was laid to rest October 24.
About a dozen people assembled at Shuttlesworth’s plot at the historic cemetery, honoring the late Reverend with a small service and monument unveiling just before lunch. His family was joined by Reverend Abraham Woods, Mayor William Bell, and City Councilor Lashunda Scales.
Rev. Woods led those in attendance in a dedication honoring Shuttlesworth’s service to the Civil Rights movement – one that included prayer and an invocation.
Family members and guests, including Mayor Bell, spoke afterwards.
The new headstone is black granite etched with the Reverend’s image and a scripture quote from Isaiah 26:3. His grave site faces 19th St. North and is across from the Sloss family plot.
Photo: Courtesy of Stuart Oates of Oak Hill Cemetery and Rebecca Dobrinski.
