Mayor Andre Dickens remembers woman who united community

The Collier Heights community and the city of Atlanta continue to mourn the loss of 99-year-old Phyllis Lawhorn. She died yesterday after an early morning fire at her home in northwest Atlanta. Fox 5's Ray Urena is live outside Clark Atlanta University. And Ray, you spoke with city leaders. They say they are still in shock over this. They are, Courtney. And Phyllis Lawhorn spent 27 years of her life as an English professor here at Clark Atlanta University. One of the interim deans told me that she set the gold standard for teaching and mastering the English language. But that's not all the community says that they will miss about her. We lost one of our stalwart citizens with her passing. A stalwart citizen who led a life of excellence. That's how Atlanta Councilmember Michael Bond is remembering 99-year-old Phyllis Lawhorn. She lived through the... History making eras of Atlanta the last half century and she was a part of it. You know, she just didn't observe it and talk about it. She was involved. Lawhorn, who was a retired educator and community historian, died Tuesday morning when a fire sparked at her home on Larchmont Court Northwest in Collier Heights. And she also was an original homeowner. They built that house. She cared about her community. She cared about the people. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens posted on social media that Lawhorn's home was around the corner from his, stating, quote, she was the glue that kept our little corner of Atlanta connected. Councilman Bond says she was chosen to be one of the teachers to integrate North Fulton High School in the 1960s. They appreciated her and admired her for the way that she was an educator, not because of the color of her skin. A legendary educator who has left Left behind a giant legacy in Atlanta and in Collier Heights. So we have pride legacy. We stand on shoulders and she's one of the shoulders that we stand on. At this point, Councilman Bond said it is too early to know exactly how the city of Atlanta will pay tribute to Phyllis Lawhorn, though he did say that he believes that she is worthy of a memorial. Reporting live outside of Clark Atlanta University, Ray and Anna, Fox 5 News. Yeah, she will be missed clearly by that community. Ray, thanks.