2023 24 Black Pages FINAL 2 - Flipbook - Page 112
The Coming of Age: “A Harmonious Future as we Rise Together.”
By
Joshua W. Murfree, Jr., Ph.D., MS
In Central Georgia there is a place we call home. A place where
he strived for over 200 years to make a living that was a different type of
place. The place where soldiers marched as they embraced freedom from
wars, a place where the KKK marched because of white supremacy and
their mistaken views, a place where education has grown to love all, and the search to find an
equal and even playing feel for the heroes and the sheroes of a society. I am speaking of a place
where Otis Redding made home and the Allman Brothers sang. The place is where Martin
Luther King, Jr. visited, and Lena Horne found life in her Journey. The place where Julia and
Ellen Craft knew they needed to escape slavery and find their freedom a thousand miles away
and where Nicole Persley, a young lady who later discovered her roots and discovered the true
meaning of own existence. Macon is the place where music has been known as king, and sports
have its legends from high school to college and yes, the pro arenas. The Arts continue to
glimmer in lights and Iconic Maconites and Iconic Businesses have made their mark where wellknown architectural sights and even cemeteries remind us of our rich history. Macon is a place
where you can learn the history of its mayors, transportation, race, ethnicity, and culture and the
true meaning of 1823 to 2023. The place where religion has been a strong backbone with the
churches, temples, and synagogues. Our history is flamed by well-known educational moguls
such as Mercer University, Wesleyan College, and the current Macon State University with
Helms College expanding the history of education in Macon. A city where elementary, middle,
and high schools help light the path for the next generation of Maconites.
200 Years later we have a city that is a “Springboard” to Valdosta, Dublin, Savannah,
Augusta, Columbus, and Atlanta. A place where Interstate 75, 475, and 16 interchanges support
the transportation coming in, and going through.
Macon launched its 200-year Bicentennial celebration to focus on some of the most
memorable people, moments, situations, and businesses in its history. The Mayor of the City
Lester Miller appointed a twenty-one-person committee based on discipline, experience, skill
sets, and community partnerships. The committee was flanked with two outstanding city
attorneys as well as a competent team of staff at City Hall to assist with the scheduling of
monthly meetings. Under the capable direction of Co-Chairs Wes Griffith and Alex Habersham
who are significant pillars of the Macon Community with longstanding histories of successful
businesses and collaborations. The Co-chairs have successfully led the Bicentennial Committee
in the establishment and execution of plans addressing the Bicentennial.
Under the direction of the Co-chairs the Committee developed its mission which seeks to
strengthen civic pride by educating the community about our history, celebrating our
accomplishments, acknowledging our past, and promoting a harmonious future. The Bicentennial
Committee’s focus was to make sure they designed a platform by which to take the 200 years
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