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Atlanta dedicates Central Avenue as Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard
Summary
City officials and community leaders gathered in downtown Atlanta for a morning ceremony to dedicate Central Avenue as Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard, honoring the former mayor’s infrastructure and civic leadership; signs were unveiled and family members joined the event.
Downtown Atlanta — City and community leaders on a Thursday morning unveiled signs renaming Central Avenue as Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard in a public dedication ceremony honoring the city’s former mayor.
The dedication brought elected officials, past mayors and community members together on the boulevard where the signs were revealed and a group photograph followed. Mayor Andre Dickens, Ambassador Andrew Young and family members joined the honoree, Shirley Clark Franklin, for remarks and musical performances.
The renaming recognized Franklin’s eight years as Atlanta’s mayor and her role in infrastructure projects and city planning repeatedly cited by speakers. "When you flush your toilet and the water goes down and not up, thank Shirley," Robert M. Franklin said during his remarks about Franklin’s work on sewers and other infrastructure. Ambassador Andrew Young described Franklin as someone who "dreamed more and believed more and achieved more in relationship to the city of Atlanta."
Emcee Roy Blankenship opened the program and called for applause, noting the visibility of honoring Franklin downtown: "Please give it up because it's not every day we name a street for Shirley Clark Franklin." Mayor Dickens mixed tribute with lighthearted moments, at one point prompting the crowd to chant "Shirleyville" after joking about temporarily changing the city's name for the celebration.
Speakers repeatedly emphasized Franklin’s mentorship and long-term vision for the city, citing projects and civic initiatives referenced in the program, including Freedom Parkway and the BeltLine. City staff from Atlanta DOT and the Department of Enterprise Asset Management assisted with logistics for the event; speakers also noted a practical constraint that the streets needed to be reopened within a set period after the ceremony.
Shirley Clark Franklin addressed the crowd and offered thanks, saying, "I am here by the grace of God," and acknowledging council members and others who organized the dedication. The program included a musical performance by violinist Joy Black and remarks by Georgia state Rep. Inga Willis and Courtney English, the city’s chief policy officer, before the unveiling.
Organizers assembled family members, city council members and the commission that the city referred to as having determined an appropriate manner to honor Franklin for ceremonial photos after the sign unveiling. The event concluded with the unveiling of the Shirley Clark Franklin Boulevard signs and group photographs with family and officials.
No formal council vote or ordinance text was shown in the transcript of the ceremony; the transcript records the public dedication and unveiling at the site.
