Given Name | George G. |
---|---|
Last Name | Seibels |
Birth Date | 16 July 1915 |
Death Date | 28 March 2000 |
Notes | George Seibels has no tombstone in the traditional sense.
The former Birmingham mayor, whose ashes were scattered to the wind Saturday, doesn't need one, friends and mourners said, as they remembered Seibels before and after a Saturday service to honor him. Seibels has memorials spread across the city that are bigger and more grand than any cemetery could hold.
''Take the Civic Center; my gosh, there's a monument to George Seibels,'' Brig. Luther Smith, former city commander of the Salvation Army, said following the service.
''He was able to get people behind him,'' Smith said of Seibels' enthusiastic promotion of causes and projects.
An urn containing Seibels' cremated remains was taken from the Cathedral Church of the Advent after the morning memorial service Saturday. His ashes were scattered in a private service at Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens.
Seibels, who served as mayor from 1967 until 1975 and died Tuesday at age 85, left many monuments, friends said, as they met for a private gathering at the home of Joe Fuller, who had twice been Seibels' campaign manager.
A portion of 20th Street North in downtown Birmingham was transformed into Birmingham Green during his administration. He helped create Birmingham's Seibels, Page 19A 13A Citizens Participation Program, which later became the neighborhood associations. Earlier, he helped put that red and green light in Vulcan's hand.
Seibels championed the idea of the ''safety light'' while he was president of the Birmingham Jaycees in 1947. The statue has been dismantled for renovation.
Others cited invisible bridges the former mayor built between whites and blacks while he was the city's mayor.
Fuller described Seibels as a hard worker ''whose sleeve was always rolled up'' and a ''bridge builder.''
''Whatever he did, he did with style,'' Fuller said.
A sign in Fuller's front yard Saturday announced: ''Seibels for Legislature. District 32.'' Fuller said it probably dated from the 1980s. The former mayor served in that role from 1978 until 1990.
Jefferson County Commissioner Bettye Fine Collins paused on the front sidewalk to ponder whether Seibels would object to Vulcan Park being renamed for him.
''He would not say, 'No, no, no,''' Mrs. Collins said. ''He would love it.''
She said she will ask the Commission this week to vote on a resolution suggesting the name change. If it passes, she will send a copy to Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid and City Council President William Bell.
Lt. Gov. Steve Windom described Seibels as ''a visionary,'' and words spoken at Seibels' memorial service echoed his spirit of enthusiastic servanthood.
''He loved being mayor,'' said Bill Ricker, Seibels' administra tive assistant during his years as mayor. ''He loved serving people.''
Dean Paul Zahl, of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, said people are either conquerors or are conquered by circumstances in life. He said Seibels was a conqueror.
Zahl said Seibels' religious faith allows him now to conquer death. He said Seibels now can see God face to face.
At the close of the memorial service the congregation sang ''Eternal Father,'' a hymn reflecting the former city leader's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II: ''Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave.''
Marty Connors said Seibels helped found the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society.
Some at the service wore green neckties or green scarves. And on the sidewalk following the service, bagpiper Kathleen Ryan played Irish tunes, including ''Danny Boy'' and ''When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.''
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Copyright, 2000, Birmingham News. Fathers Name: George G. Seibels Mothers Name: Aileen Saunders Pettit Disposition: Cremation Marital Status: Married Spouse: Norma Graham |
Source | Obituary |