Former mayor remembered for courage

Former Philadelphia Mayor Rayburn Waddell died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. He was 78.

Waddell, who served as mayor from 1997 until 2009, was a Neshoba County native, moved away about a decade ago and had been living in Madison and Dallas.

Alderman Leroy Clemons knew Waddell well, both in and out of politics. He spoke of Waddell’s courage when faced with a politically unpopular situation.

“I think about my first encounter with him with The Philadelphia Coalition,” Clemons said. “I will never forget when we got ready to do the call for justice. He stood with us and showed a lot of courage.”

Alderman Cassie Henson said, her father served with Waddell and thought well of him. “He was a friend of my family,” Henson said. “It saddened me to know about the loss of the former mayor. I got my first job through his help and I am forever grateful for that. He was a good friend of my father, Charles Henson, who served on the board.

“He was a friend and would do anything he could to help you. That is not coming from me but from many people in the community,” Henson said.

 Before running for mayor, Waddell served as alderman of Ward 1 from 1989 until 1997.

“When he ran for mayor, I ran in his place in Ward 1 and was elected,” said Alderman Joe Tullos. “He was a good guy and a basketball star. He and Robert Thomas used to talk about the old days and how good they were. He was a lot of fun to work with and quite a character. We will miss him dearly.”

Tullos said one of Waddell’s accomplishments as mayor involved making Main Street and Beacon Street one-way.

“That was one of his biggest projects,” Tullos said. “I remember him being out there, doing what mayors do. He was checking on the department heads; he served us well. We are going to miss him. This is quite sad.”

Mayor James A. Young, who defeated Waddell, had nothing but respect for his former rival.

“What I remember, after the race was over, he came by and told me I had run a good race and congratulated me,” Young said. “To me, that said a lot about him. Sometimes opponents don’t talk afterward. He met me face-to-face, shook my hand and told me I had run a good race.

“That election meant a lot to me and to this city. And I dare not do anything to bring reproach against the city or him. I am sorry this has happened and I continued to pray for the family.”

Young erroneously announced Waddell's death at the Aug. 2 meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and that was reported briefly on the Democrat’s Facebook page because a reporter was in attendance. The announcement was corrected when the family said the former mayor was not dead. Waddell died later that evening.

He was a graduate of Philadelphia High School and East Central Junior College where he played and excelled in basketball. 

He was survived by his wife, Wanda Temple Waddell; daughter, Temple Waddell Callahan (Jason); son, Ray Waddell (Angelique); grandchildren, Charlie, Madeleine, and Mary Lehman Waddell, Southern and Kennedy Callahan; sister, Patricia Bradley (Raymond); brother, Johnny Waddell; a host of nieces, nephews, and their families.