Speakers urge City Council to rename Hall Street for Julia May Ingram; council receives proclamations honoring local figures

Speakers at the public‑comment portion of the April 14 Milligville City Council meeting urged the council to honor longtime civil‑rights activist Julia May Ingram by renaming Hall Street in her memory.

State Representative Floyd Griffin, who said he was speaking at the family's request, recounted Ingram’s decades of civic work and urged the council to support the family’s petition. "I wholeheartedly recommend that you all support their request," Griffin said. Local residents Peggy Langjino Chester and Barbara Ingram, Julia Ingram’s daughter, offered personal recollections of her community organizing, voter‑registration work and service during the civil‑rights movement; Barbara Ingram told the council Julia May Ingram was born in 1928 and died June 5, 2023.

Mayor Mary Parm Copelan acknowledged the public comments and accepted copies of the family’s materials for the council record. The transcript shows the request was delivered during public comment; no motion or formal council action to rename the street was recorded during the meeting.

In other ceremonial business the council presented a proclamation recognizing April 14, 2026 as John William Grant Jr. Day to honor the late former mayor’s public service; the mayor also proclaimed April 19–25, 2026 as Earth Week in partnership with Keep Milligville Baldwin Beautiful.

What’s next

The street‑naming request was recorded in the public‑comment portion and the family provided materials to the council; council members did not place a street‑naming ordinance on the meeting’s consent or action calendar during this session. Interested residents should check future agendas or contact the city clerk for any formal proposal or ordinance scheduling.