On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County held its 24th regular meeting at 6:30 PM in the Metropolitan Courthouse. The meeting included public hearings, a consent agenda, and votes on numerous zoning changes, resolutions, and ordinances. Key actions included the confirmation of two board members, the adoption of several public safety bills on third reading, and the approval of a major mixed-use development on White Bridge Pike after robust public testimony. One bill on second reading (BL2024-441, regarding algae and mildew enforcement) failed.
Period, we do have two presentations. The first one is uh the Nigerian Independence Day Proclamation by Councilmember Swara. So, Councilmember Swara, are you ready? You're doing, oh, okay. So the first one will be Emma Smith Proclamation. Oh, okay. It's like I'm a child. Okay. Joy. You know, the other joy and uh. J.K. All right. Thank you, Pro Tem, and uh congratulations again. So this is a proclamation recognizing Miss Emma's one hundredth birthday. Whereas Miss Emma Upkin Smith, known to all as Miss Emma, was born in Lynch, Kentucky to Emmett and Nanny Bubby Nanny Mary Bobbitt. And whereas Miss Emma and a twin brother Hemmits Jr. were the fifth and six siblings of nine siblings. Miss Emma was educated in the Lynch Color School, where she excelled as a student and graduated as the Valent Dutorian. She was also the Ed Majorette of the Lynch Pirates matching band. And whereas after graduation, Miss Emma went to Dayton, Ohio to live with her mother's sister and her husband. She worked as a clerk typist at Wright Patterson Field and later returned to Lynch, Kentucky. And whereas Miss Emma married a young coal miner, Mr. Jasper Hopkins, into this union, two daughters were born, Frida Hopkins, Outlaw, and Rita Hopkins, B oh, excuse me, bird. In 1976, Mr. Hopkins passed away, and Miss Emma later married Mr. Otis B. Smith, to whom she remained married until his passing, and whereas Miss Emma began working as the operating room cleaning person for the U.S. SEAL Hospital that was operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame, a Catholic order of religious sisters who serve the poor. Miss Emma worked at ARH until she retired in 1979 after refusing to cross the picket lines, where the hospital food service and sanitation workers were on strike. And whereas Miss Emma was a very active member of the Lynch community and secular, social and religious areas, she was the worthy matron for the Order of the Eastern Star, an active member of the Red Red Hatters, and the Embanaries, a cultural club that provided community services, such as making dinner for those who were not able to do for themselves and other events, and whereas Miss Simmons was also a committed member of the Eastern Kentucky Social Club, founded in 1969 by families of black coal miners, and may be the longest running African American organization of its kind dedicated to social purposes and whereas for many years you could find Miss Emma in the kitchen of the club on Friday and Saturday nights, frying chicken to be sold as sandwiches to raise money for the EKSC scholarship fund and whereas Miss Emma was a lifelong member of the Good Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, where she served as assistant superintendent of the Sunday school, member of the trustee board where she was the secretary, head of fundraising, and in many other leadership roles, she is finally remembered by many young people during the 1960s and 1970s as the parent who provided transportation to all of the out-of-town church events and whereas Miss Emma was on call to serve individuals in her community who had home health care needs, such as wound care. In fact, her daughters used to tease her that she was practicing medicine slash nursing without a license. She was known in the community for her healing hands and thus was always being requested because she was kind, compassionate, knew what she was doing, and provided services at no cost, and whereas in 2014, Miss Emma relocated to Nashville to be closer to family. She joined CLAC United Medicists Church, where she actively participated, working with the Meals on Wheels Ministry, United Women of Faith, the Hospitality Ministry, and always volunteered when the church needed something. And whereas Miss Emma is the last surviving sibling in a family, however, she's surrounded by by love from my two daughters, two devoted son-in-loves, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, and many friends. And now therefore, I Zofasora, Councilmember at Lodge of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and the other signed council members of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, do hereby recognize and celebrate Miss Emma Smith and congratulate her upon this joyous occasion of our 100th birthday and extend our very best wishes for continued health and happiness. Hello, everybody. Doing good things for everybody that you meet along the way. Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Miss Emma. Happy birthday to you. Can we get a picture? All right, let's do a picture. Yes, ma'am. If you would owe that. Okay, wait, you put the came. Okay. All right. Oh, we need I want to get a picture of his hand bomb.