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MEDIA ADVISORY: Bishop Alexis A. Thomas Street Ceremonial Sign Installation and Dedication
What: The Phoenix Street Transportation Department will partner with Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to host a special event during which a ceremonial street sign honoring the late Bishop Alexis A. Thomas will be unveiled and dedicated at the 14th Street and Jefferson Street intersection. The blue sign with white lettering will be mounted on the mast arm of the southeast traffic signal pole to designate the location as Bishop Alexis A. Thomas Street.
Elected officials, and church and community leaders will give remarks prior to the sign unveiling. The event will be open to the public.
Installation of the sign, which was approved by Phoenix City Council during its Formal Meeting on April 1, 2020, is being conducted as part of the church’s centennial anniversary celebration.
Bishop Thomas passed away unexpectedly at age 50 on January 18, 2018. He received his license to preach at age 7 and was appointed senior pastor at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church at age 16. During his tenure as senior pastor, he grew the congregation from 200 to more than 4,000 members. Bishop Thomas also was an active civil rights leader in Arizona for decades and the General Chairman of the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, which he founded in 2001. He also was the co-founder of the African American Strategic Alliance Coalition in Phoenix.
Who: Remarks will be given by the following:
- Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
- Phoenix District 8 Councilmember Carlos Garcia
- Reverend Dr. Terry E. Mackey – Senior Pastor, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
- Elder Jerry Barnes – Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
- Elder Richard Yarbough – Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church
- Kini Knudson – Director, Phoenix Street Transportation Department
When: Thursday, November 3 at 10 a.m.
Where: The ceremonial sign installation and dedication will be held near the southwest corner of the 14th Street and Jefferson Street intersection. Event parking is available in the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church parking lot, located at 1401 E. Jefferson Street and a short walk from the intersection.
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