‘May the work that I do speak for me’: Alderman Michael Mayfield Sr. honored

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — A marker honoring former Alderman Michael Mayfield Sr. was dedicated in a ceremony at the City of Vicksburg Community Development Building on South Street this morning, with a plaque adorned in Alcorn State purple and gold.

“Today we gather together not to unveil a marker, but to honor the life and legacy of a man who gave his heart to the city,” said Mayor George Flaggs Jr.

“I’m glad God put it in your heart and in your mind to do this unveiling for my husband,” said Bertha Mayfield, wife of the late Mayfield Sr. “He spent time after time, day after day, night after night for the people of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He did that because he loved people.”

“When I started to work for Mr. Mayfield, I soon realized I was not working for Mr. Mayfield—I was working with Mr. Mayfield,” said Jeff Richardson. “It was a collaboration, and everybody underneath me was working with Mr. Mayfield. Problems came up all the time. He wanted to know all sides of the story, and then he made a decision. We did not agree on everything, and he did not expect me to agree with him on everything. But there was a mutual respect, and we respected each other’s opinions.”

“One thing I do know about my dad—he always put people first, he always put the community first—and I’m always thankful for the fact that he dedicated his life to the people,” said Ward 1 Alderman T.J. Mayfield. “A lot of people get in politics for all the wrong reasons, but he went to his grave knowing that he did the right thing on behalf of the people. I’m excited that for as long as this building is here in the city of Vicksburg, my dad will have his place here. So when all of us pass on, our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids can walk right here and see this beautiful mark in honor of my dad.”