This Black History Month, we honor Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson, a trailblazer whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication helped shape Decatur and DeKalb County for generations.

This Black History Month, we honor Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson, a trailblazer whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication helped shape Decatur and DeKalb County for generations.

DeKalb County History Maker | Elizabeth Wilson

One of Decatur’s most prominent citizens, Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson, has spent a lifetime breaking barriers and building opportunity in DeKalb County.

Originally from Greensboro, Georgia, Wilson moved to Decatur in 1949 and quickly emerged as a powerful advocate for equity and community progress. She made history as the first African American elected to the City Commission of Decatur and later as the first African American Mayor of Decatur, helping to dismantle long-standing racial barriers in local government.

Beyond elected office, Wilson was at the forefront of efforts to integrate Decatur’s schools, serving as a state and national PTA officer and working closely with the Decatur Colored Citizens League and the NAACP. She has also been deeply committed to preserving the history of Decatur’s Beacon community, ensuring that its legacy remains recognized and honored.

Wilson’s dedication to community health and access led her to play a key role in founding the Beacon Hill Clinic and the Oakhurst Community Health Center (formerly the Community Center of South Decatur), providing vital medical care and resources to residents.

In recognition of her extraordinary service, Wilson was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Agnes Scott College. With more than 60 years of civic, educational, and community leadership, she continues to dedicate her life to creating positive change.

Elizabeth Wilson’s legacy is Black history rooted in courage, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to community.