New mural at 4th & Rodney Park memorializes beloved Pastor Lottie Lee-Davis
Wilmington, DE: West Side Grows Together and Be Ready Church & CDC are set to reveal a brand new mural at 4th & Rodney Park opposite the landmark Westside church. The mural is in remembrance of the late Pastor Lottie Lee-Davis, a beloved community leader in Wilmington who passed in a tragic car accident earlier this year, and a memorial to her spirit and dedication to the youth of her community.
Earlier this year, Be Ready & West Side Grows Together began to work with local artists Crae Washington and JaQuanne LeRoy to provide a visual and inspirational highlight at the park which was previously renovated in 2017. After Pastor Lottie’s departure, the focus shifted to provide an artistic memorial to her legacy. Now, the image of the adored Pastor will watch over all the children who play at the park, surrounded by the career aspirations of the youth from the neighborhood she advocated for.
Mural in progress at 4th & Rodney Park
Elder Wayne DeShields, President of Be Ready CDC and brother to Pastor Lottie stated, “There aren’t words enough to express the loss we feel in losing our beloved Pastor, nor are there words enough to convey our sincere gratitude for the mural on 4th and Rodney street in honor of her memory. A wall mural painted and dedicated in a park that she, alongside West Side Grows Together, fought so hard to rebuild and revitalize, which is across the street from the very church she pastored.”
Mural in progress at 4th & Rodney Park
He added, “This wall is a quasi-immortalization of our late Pastor but when the colors get dull, the paint fades, and you begin to see more brick than art, it will be the lives she touched, the youth she helped, and the single mothers and children she saved that will indemnify her memory for years to come .”
The mural was made possible with the support of AARP, City of Wilmington, Delaware Community Foundation, State Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker, Be Ready CDC, M&T Bank, and individual donors.
Sarah Lester, President & CEO of Cornerstone West CDC, the backbone agency of the West Side Grows Together coalition, emphasized the importance of working with local artists and community members on public art projects. “Pastor Lottie was an advocate for this community. She fought for a better Fourth Street and for a better future for the people who live and work here, especially the youth.”
Because of Pastor Lottie and Be Ready’s commitment to youth development, the mural depicts future career pathways inspired by local youth who participate in Be Ready’s Extended/Remote Learning Day Camp. The youth were asked about their career aspirations and examples of Black excellence, and examples of their responses include careers in the arts, medical professions, social services, education, president, police, and more.
The public may attend the mural reveal at West Side Grows Together’s annual Holiday Cheer event held at 4th & Rodney Park this Saturday from 10 AM to 12 PM. Special guests will speak about the mural between 10-10:30 AM after which holiday festivities will commence such as free cocoa and cookies, childrens’ activities, and a turkey giveaway at Be Ready Church.