Gibbons St. name change hits snag
Residents say they’re worried about paperwork if the road is renamed for the late Rev. Nim B. Russell.
Julia Russell’s attempt to have Gibbons Street renamed in honor of her late husband, the Rev. Nim B. Russell, has hit a roadblock.
Russell, who was the pastor of Thankful Baptist Church in Rome, died in a March 2014 car wreck in Bartow County. The street is near the church.
Two different petitions were circulated among the residents of Gibbons Street, which has about a dozen homes. One petition was in favor of the change and one against it.
According to a list provided by Rome Public Works Director Kirk Milam, eight people were in favor of the
name change and 10 people were against it. Five people signed both petitions.
Henrice Berrien and Iris Kinnebrew, who oppose the name change, spoke during the Rome Traffic Commission meeting on Wednesday.
Kinnebrew said many of the residents didn’t realize they would have to change their license, insurance, mailing address
and other items.
“You have to remember everything that has to be changed,” she said.
Berrien agreed, adding that many of the residents on the street are elderly or sick, so they aren’t capable of making all of those changes. Both women stated they just oppose all of the changes that would be necessary and that they have noth- ing personal against the Russells.
Russell assured the residents that she would help them through the process of making all the necessary address changes.
City Commissioner Bill Collins also spoke in favor of the name change, saying that Russell was very similar in some respects to Martin Luther King Jr., except on a local level. He was a very humble man who did many great things for the community, Collins said.
He added that the address and identification changes being asked of residents would be the same if they had moved.
The issue was tabled for more review and to discuss other possible options to recognize Russell.