SALISBURY — Both the Salisbury City Council and several residents took the time to speak about what Anthony Smith has meant to the city during his last council meeting on Tuesday.
Smith resigned after the meeting to move back to his native Birmingham, Alabama, in order to pursue career opportunities and be closer to his family.
“We’ve done our fair share of peace marches and demonstrations together, and the moment you got on council, I could have never been prouder because I feel like we had always been in that together even when I was on council. I’m glad you made a decision to do it and it was a huge commitment, so we can never repay you for that. Your mindset that you brought to the city, Anthony, can never be replaced. You are a personal friend and you’ve been a colleague and now we get to share one of our best, brightest stars with another place,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Sheffield.
Smith moved to Salisbury in 2010, and has worked with various organizations, including his church Mission House and the group Rowan Concerned Citizens, on initiatives throughout the city since, “bringing his passion to community building, social justice and equity to the forefront of his service,” said Mayor Karen Alexander, reading the proclamation honoring Smith.