Part of Hubbard Street To Be Renamed “D. Velma Laws Clay Way”

Battle Creek will honor the late Dr. Velma Laws Clay next Tuesday, when a portion of Hubbard Street will be renamed "Dr. Velma Laws Clay Way".  A new sign will go up on what is currently Hubbard Street between Manchester and Greenwood.  Dr. Clay passed away July 1st at the age of 75.

Ward 2 City Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray, along with friends and family of the late Dr. Clay,  will host a ceremony to celebrate her life  and her many contributions to the City of Battle Creek.  They'll unveil the honorary street sign  in honor and tribute to Dr. Clay, the Laws family and the power of neighborhoods.  The action comes after a resolution passed at the August 9th Battle Creek City Commission meeting.

That ceremony will happen next Tuesday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m. at the corner of Hubbard Street and Graves Avenue in the Willis Commons neighborhood of Washington Heights.  The location is right next to the Laws family home at 97 Hubbard Street.

Commissioner Gray stated, “To have known Dr. Clay was a blessing, it is both humbling and such an honor to be able to remember her and her community advocacy and education efforts in this way.”

Clay served on many  local, regional, and national boards and committees. Her energy and devotion was instrumental in bringing the Sojourner Truth statue to Monument Park in 1999. She continuously encouraged residents to become more educated on black history, to become involved and more locally civic-minded.
Here's a video from Heritage Battle Creek with Clay talking about her life in Battle Creek.