The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved a  resolution for the installation of a marker on a portion of Peeksville Road between the area beginning at the intersection of Hwy. 42 to the intersection of South Ola Road in Locust Grove, in honor of Civil Rights activist and NAACP trailblazer James. W. Lemon. The action came at the October 3 Commission meeting.

  The resolution read in part “Mr. Lemon was an integral part of improving the lives of African-Americans in and around Henry County through his activism and actions, particularly from establishing the Henry County Chapter of the NAACP in 1943, dedicating his life to the education and betterment of those who were systematically underserved; and WHEREAS, Mr. Lemon was a Civil Rights pioneer, and actively advocated for an improved education system in Henry County and successfully achieved the group’s goal of better training for teachers in African-American schools, and fighting for the rights of African-American farmers, helping them purchase land through the Federal Home Loans Administration.”

  The Board approved the dedication to designate a portion of Peeksville Road as the “Honorary J.W. Lemon Memorial Highway” through the installation of a roadway marker.

  Members of Lemon’s family were in attendance for the Board’s action.

  Several commissioners spoke on Lemon’s significant accomplishments and activism.

  District I Commissioner Johnny Wilson said that although he wasn’t fortunate enough to know Mr. Lemon, in his conversations with Locust Grove residents and officials, he learned that Lemon was a peacemaker in Locust Grove and compared his work on behalf of African-Americans to Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Commission Chair June Wood lauded Lemon’s contributions and the dedication marker for its important historical significance and thanked the city of the Locust Grove, the NAACP and the Lemon family.

  “He was a pioneer, especially for establishing the Henry County Chapter of the NAACP,” said Wood.   The unveiling ceremony is expected to be held later this year.