Tag Archives: Fred Shuttlesworth

Shuttlesworth headstone dedicated at Oak Hill

close-up of Shuttlesworth headstone.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.

Shuttlesworth to be remembered this weekend

Shuttlesworth Memorial at BCRI. acnatta/bhamterminalThere are several tributes to the life of the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth available as family members and residents throughout the city and the country prepare to honor the civil rights leader this weekend.

There was a wreath laying at the statue bearing his resemblance in front of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on October 12 by members of the Birmingham chapter of the NAACP. CBS 42 and Weld for Birmingham have also collected Shuttlesworth’s own thoughts, with Weld’s publisher, Mark Kelly, offering this reflective account on October 15.

The October 21 print edition of  The Birmingham News includes a special section (contained in section A) complete with quotes from Shuttlesworth, a photo gallery and remembrances from individuals including one from BCRI president Lawrence Pijeaux.

Wade Black, executive director of the Birmingham Pledge Foundationhas shared a remembrance of Shuttlesworth and his importance to the civil rights movement in our editorial section today.

Reverend Shuttlesworth will be remembered at a private family service at Bethel Baptist Church on October 22. His body will be at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute for public respects Sunday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Diane McWhorter and Robert Corley will be co-moderating Historians and History Makers Pay Tribute to the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, from 3 – 5 p.m. that day at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. October 24 at Faith Chapel Christian Center in Wylam prior to private burial at Oak Hill Cemetery (just north of downtown).

Photo: Shuttlesworth Memorial at BCRI, October 13, 2011. acnatta/bhamterminal.com.

Seems the airport’s new name’s OK, but the logo

Perhaps today’s announcement that the Birmingham Airport Authority has voted to change the name of our airport to Birmingham Shuttlesworth Interntational Airport will cause many to voice concerns as to whether or not it should have been done (for whatever reason). One man’s thoughts though went to whether or not there was any thought given to the logo proposed by Mayor Langford during the specially called meeting.

So, what do you think? (a.k.a. – blatant plug to go answer today’s Magic City Question)

FYI – next steps include the FAA approving the name change (which shouldn’t be a problem). It has always been reported that our BHM designation would remain unchanged with the new name, as it did with its old one. We’re also a little nervous about the potential jokes that will be made about the shuttle buses promised back in April.

Name change for Birmingham International Airport?

That is what was proposed by Mayor Larry Langford earlier today during the City Council meeting. He said that he would be asking the Birmingham Airport Authority to rename the current facility for civil rights icon the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.

Aerial of Seibels/Bryan - Birmingham International Airport. Photo: Bob Farley/f8photo.org

Aerial of Seibels/Bryan Birmingham International Airport. Bob Farley/f8photo

The proposal would change the name from the current, seldom used one – Seibels/Bryan – Birmingham International Airport (for former Birmingham mayor George Siebels and Brother Bryan. (No, we didn’t know either until we did the research ourselves…)

Rebuild Bethel marches forward

Rebuild Bethel website screenshot

Screenshot of Rebuild Bethel campaign website. 

We haven’t heard a lot about historic Bethel Baptist Church in recent months – the historic building granted National Historic Landmark status in 2005 – not the congregation’s current structure – despite a pledge by Mayor Langford to provide up to $1 million in city funds towards its renovation. Hopefully that will change in the near future as efforts to complete this project continue in the city’s Collegeville neighborhood.

Continue reading

A look back: May 8

1888:

Birmingham‘s first telephone exchange opened in the 3rd floor of Hughes Drug Store with 39 subscribers.

1963:

Fred Shuttlesworth bruised a rib after being driven into the wall of the 16th Street Baptist Church by a blast from a fire hose during the Children’s Crusade.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo

A look back: March 18

1922:

Civil Rights activist Fred Shuttlesworth was born in Montgomery County.

2003:

The FBI raided HealthSouth headquarters.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo