The mayor of Manchester, Tenn. has died of the coronavirus. Mayor Lonnie Norman died on Oct. 12 after being hospitalized on Oct. 1 for covid-19.
When Norman was elected mayor in 1991, he became the first Black mayor of Manchester, a small town of about 10,000 people 65 miles southeast of Nashville, according to radio station WPLN. Norman, 79, had just begun his third term as mayor over the summer.
Norman was considered a major voice in the city. His accomplishments included a new recreation complex, soccer field, improvements to countless parks, other infrastructure, and the growth of the popular Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester News reported.
“We are all sorry to hear of Mayor Lonnie’s passing. Bonnaroo was an incredible “Get” for Manchester and all of the musicians, crew and services employed & promoted by B’roo.Rest in Power, Sir”, RiseAndShine2020 tweeted.
Claire. D @Cleob100 added her condolences on Twitter. “Wow may he rest in power, may Tennesseans not let his death be in vain even he couldn’t get the great care trump did!!My deepest condolences to his family”.
Covid-19 cases have been on the rise in Tennessee. Coffee County, which includes Manchester, has recorded 1,557 coronavirus diagnoses and 17 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, The New York Post reported. The state saw 2,068 new diagnoses and nine deaths in the most recent 24-hour period for which data was available, according to state health officials.
Others on Twitter compared Norman’s medical treatment with the treatment Trump received for his covid-19 crisis. Covid-19 still disproportionately affects Black Americans.
“Guess he wasn’t able to get a helicopter ride to the best hospital in the world and a cocktail of high powered anti-viral drugs & steroids. May he rest in peace” Myandra is a Monster Wicked Graceless Lady @naughtywriter2 tweeted.
Norman’s family said in a statement, “It is said that when your work speaks for itself — let it. Mayor Lonnie Norman’s eight decades on this planet were filled with work that testifies to both his accomplishments and his values.”
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The family made an appeal to the public. “To our fellow citizens, we say please wear a mask, practice physical distancing, and protect public health and each other. We are all in this together.”
The family also asked public officials to do their jobs. “Covid-19 is real and it took our beloved Lonnie Norman from us. To his fellow public officials, we say please remember your duty to keep the public safe.”
