Actions of Anderson Youth Honor the Life of a Community Leader

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:16:41 -0800

ANDERSON, IN - Mayor Kris Ockomon will announce the renaming of Louise Street to Rev. J.T. Menifee Street on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 5:30pm at the Anderson Zion Missionary Baptist Church Family Life Center.

"The honor to Rev. Dr. J.T. Menifee is long overdue," said Mayor Ockomon. "The determination of three young ladies who garnered hundreds of signatures has made this change possible."

Mayor Ockomon is referring to the diligent efforts of Chelsea Newell (age 18), Kaela Braxton (age 16), and Tyeria Austin (age 17). The young ladies collected over seven-hundred signatures in favor of the name change.

"His life is an inspiration to me," said Chelsea Newell, when asked what motivated her to spend her summer knocking on doors to gather signatures. "We felt it was something that we could do to make a difference in our neighborhood."

Rev. Dr. James T. Menifee was an irrepressible advocate of the Anderson community during the 1980s and 1990s. Menifee organized the first annual westside cleanup in 1985, which was the inspiration to Anderson’s current annual cleanup of the city. He led in the creation of our city park to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., and also raised over $100,000 to erect the bronze statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. that centers the park gardens today. The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship and the MLK Community Housing Development Corp. are also both to the credit of Rev. Dr. J.T. Menifee.

Menifee died in 1998, leaving a life full of purpose, service and example to his community.

"Rev. Menifee’s acts of compassion and service are still deeply rooted in our community today," said Mayor Ockomon. "I am privileged to honor a community leader who gave so much and inspired so many."

Anderson Zion Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2008 Louise Street, Anderson Indiana.

Source: City of Anderson Press Release