The petitioner is requesting approval to establish an Honorary Street Designation for Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock titled "Raphael Warncok Way". The designation is proposed for Cape Street located between Morris Brown Drive and Brewer Street within Kayton Frazier Homes.

City Council adopted provisions for honorary street naming designations in Article E. Naming and Renaming of Public Property, Facilities and Streets. Honorary street designations are intended to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the city and have no permanent impact on street addresses or mapping database systems. The petition has met all the requirements of Article E. Naming and Renaming of Public Property, Facilities and Streets.

BACKGROUND

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah, born one of twelve brothers and sisters raised in coastal Georgia. His father, a veteran, small businessman, and preacher, grew up in Burke and Screven County, GA. Senator Reverend Warnock’s mother grew up in Waycross, GA, where she spent summers picking tobacco and cotton.

A graduate of Savannah’s Sol C. Johnson High School, Senator Raphael Warnock’s mother and extended family still live in the Savannah area. Senator Warnock is a proud graduate of Morehouse College; after graduating from Morehouse, he went on to earn a PhD and begin his career and was ordained in the ministry. For over 15 years, Senator Warnock has served as Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the youngest pastor selected to serve in that leadership role at the historic church.

Senator Warnock was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in the January 5, 2021, special election runoff for the term ending January 3, 2023. He took the oath of office on January 20, 2021. The petitioner, Mayor Van Johnson commented “I think it’s even more historic that he is a product of public housing,” and “I think it’s important for little boys who grow up on that block to know that greatness is not defined by where you live.” Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock achievements serve as a testament to Savannahians on how we can overcome obstacles and make positive change.

Approval