Love Center salutes Apalachicola Mayor

Mayor Van Johnson

The Love Center Ministries along with members of the Apalachicola community singled out and saluted Mayor Van Johnson for his work as mayor of Apalachicola at the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Celebration held Monday, January 21, 2013, at the Fort Coombs National Guard Armory.  

Johnson’s recognition was part of the King’s Day celebration program, hosted by the ministry for last 25 plus years.

Local clergymen gathered around the podium each taking turn to speak words of encouragement to the mayor, with Bishop Horace Solomon, Pastor of New Life Church leading off calling Johnson a “bridge builder” and referring to him as “Van the Man” before the ministers surrounding the mayor laying hands upon him while praying for divine wisdom.

Apalachicola Mayor Pro-Tem Frank Cook read and presented Mayor Johnson with a proclamation recounting Johnson's employment history with the county and citing his devotion to serving others. 

The mayor also received recognition from Elinor Mount-Simmons, President of the Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola, Inc., which Johnson is a founding member and a plaque from Bishop Robert Davis on behalf of Apostle C. White-O’Neal and the Love Center Ministries.

Johnson is the first duly elected African-American mayor in the 182-year history of the city, first elected to the post in 2005, and re-elected to another four-year term in 2011.  Prior to his election as mayor, he served 10-years on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners as the seat 3 city commissioner. 

He is now the retired director of the Franklin County Departments of Solid Waste & Recycling, Animal Control and Park & Recreation where he worked for 30-years.