A theme of togetherness was woven through the program for last week’s State of the City Address by Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James.
From its opening invocation through the views on the past year from Dr. James to cap the address Thursday, May 8 at C.C. McCray City Auditorium, working together to further the community was central to the day.
Mayor James covered a host of items in his 40minute address. A group of about 175 which included, government officials, civic and business leaders, as well as city workers and citizens, were in the audience for the luncheon speech.
The Mayor, in his second term, touched on the accomplishments of each of the city’s departments during the past year and where the city was positioned for the future. He said the city was strong and getting stronger.
“What can we do to make this city and our county better,” Mayor James said.
Caleb Lancaster, Pastor of Remnant Church, opened the program with a greeting and prayer. Paraphrasing from Bible verse Jeremiah 29: 7, Lancaster said when the city thrives, we all thrive and vice versa.
“The rest of our days are the best of our days,” he said in closing his prayer.
Ware County Schools Supt. Dr. Lynn Barber offered remarks after Lancaster, and introduced the WCHS Junior ROTC color guard for the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem by State Court Judge Tommy Hatfield with a saxophone solo.
Ware County Commissioner Leonard Burse followed with points of the cooperation between the city and county for all to move forward. A former member of the Waycross City Commission as well, Burse pointed to the joint efforts of the governments to bring overpasses on Albany Avenue and Ossie Davis Parkway to make them within sight of reality.
He drew a laugh from the gathering by saying the late Sam Cooke summed the process of those projects in his song titled, “A Change Is Gonna Come” with its line, “A long time coming.”
“If we’re not working toward common goals, we’re not moving forward,” Burse closed. “Together we can be strong. Together we can be resilient. And together, with God’s help we can move forward.”
One of the city’s younger native sons, Jorel “J-Fly” Flynn, who grew up on Oak Street, answered the mayor’s call to be a part of the program. A titan in the music industry, said he was in the middle of production for a festival in Panama City, Fla., when he received the invitation.
“This is an awesome honor,” said the CEO of How Big is Your Dream Foundation, Inc., which aids those seeking careers in the entertainment industry. “I couldn’t say no to Mayor James.”
Flynn, who sits on the advisory board of music at Georgia Tech, spoke of the changes in Waycross since his youth, the auditorium among them.
“The last time I was here it was a gym,” he joked. “I’m in awe of this building.”
Gabrielle Hudson, a freshman music student at Georgia State, followed with a stirring vocal medley of songs capped by “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” before Mayor James was introduced with a city-centered video.
The Mayor opened by mentioning the efforts of Waycross and Ware County partners in community service, non-profits, health care, education, government, the faith community and economic development groups.
He recognized City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford as well as Commissioners Shawn Roberts, Sheinita Bennett Katrena Felder and Alvin Nelson. He also paid tribute to the long services of former Commissioners Norman E. Davis, who died in April, 2024, and Diane Hopkins, who died this January.”
A photo of each rested on an easel in front of the stage on either side of the podium.
“Their legacy of service will continue on,” Mayor James said.
In City Hall, the Mayor said crime was down 28 percent in 2024, WPD data shows. The fire department’s average response time for nearly 1,600 calls was under four minutes, for a positive impact on the city’s insurance rating.
Only a handful of city roads remain unpaved, with those projected to be handled within a year. Three of the city’s parks are receiving major upgrades with the help of state funding, while others in the city will be improved.
Mayor James pointed to the city’s economic growth in the past year. He said there’s nearly $75 million in new construction in the city as well as eight new businesses.
“The nation knows about us,” Mayor James said. “Waycross has potential and people are looking at us. We have boundless energy here for others to experience.”
The city’s engagement with citizens and others has been aided by the creation of the application, mywaycrossga for smart phones.
In house, the city’s 203person workforce experienced only a 5.3 percent turnover rate with improved employee pay and benefits.
Mayor James closed by saying the city “is strong and getting stronger.”
“May we love and serve Waycross, not individually, but together,” he said. “We have to do this as one.”
