Beloved Decatur Resident, Employee and Volunteer
Memorial Benches
The City of Decatur, the Decatur Arts Alliance, and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority are spearheading the effort to build two benches to commemorate Alma Fleetwood. Members of the community donated the money to be used to build the benches as a tangible reminder of the life of Alma. One bench will be put on the square in downtown Decatur. The other bench will be installed at Roy Moss Park in College Heights where Alma lived for many years.
The benches must be made out of a durable, low-maintenance material that will stand up to hot summers and rainy winters for many years. Whether you design with wood, metal, or stone, we invite you to submit a bench proposal. A jury will convene to select the two benches to be built.
Proposal form (PDF)
Bench specs (PDF)
Bench Guidelines
- All artists and community members may submit proposals for the benches. We ask that all proposals involve a creative touch reflecting Alma and be durable and low-maintenance.
- There is no cost to submit a proposal. The winning artists will receive $1500 each to cover the cost of materials to build their bench. The City of Decatur will cover the installation costs.
- The benches in the City of Decatur measure six feet. Please see the attached page for more information on the measurements.
- Proposals must be mailed to the Decatur Arts Alliance by November 21, 2011. With each proposal, include your name, address, email, and telephone number. Please address envelopes to Decatur Arts Alliance, PO Box 401, Decatur GA 30031.
- The jury will make their decision by December 15, 2011. Artists will be contacted by the end of December with the results of their proposal. The benches will be installed in April and will include a commemoration honoring the memory of Alma.
Alma’s Story
Ask anyone what they remember most about Alma and the answer will be “her smile.” Alma Fleetwood was a long-time resident of the City of Decatur. She worked for the City of Decatur, first as a crossing guard at College Heights Elementary School and later as a supervisor of the downtown parking program. She was well-known for her compassion, her love of people and her willingness to give of her time and her talents to her community. She was a leader at College Heights Elementary School PTA and in the College Heights Neighborhood Association. She served on the board of the South Decatur Community Development Corporation and was one of the biggest fans of the Decatur Bulldogs.
Alma never met a stranger and made everyone she met feel like they were her best friend. If you ever tried walking with Alma anywhere in Decatur, you knew it was going to take twice as long because she stopped to talk to everyone she met. From three-piece-suit, professionals to street people and community characters, Alma treated everyone with respect and compassion and knew their life story. She embodied what we all think about when we talk about sense of community and the Decatur way of doing things. And, Alma had a wicked sense of humor! She always had her joke of the day and you could hear her laughing and talking the minute she entered a building.
The idea of honoring Alma’s memory by creating and placing benches in two areas of the city in came out of our sharing stories of Alma. Alma was all about encouraging positive communication and enjoying people. These benches will allow her spirit to continue by providing a place for people to take time out of their day to stop, rest, enjoy our city and talk with friends. We’d like to think of Alma sitting on these benches and taking delight in observing people walking by and listening in on their conversations. Keep this spirit of Alma in mind when you create your design and help us honor her memory in a lasting way.