DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — A neighbor of the late Stephen Perkins is leading a push for Decatur city leaders to rename his former block from Ryan Drive to Steve Perkins Drive.
Perkins was killed by police in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, 2023, following an incident surrounding a vehicle repossession. Former Decatur Police Officer Mac Marquette is charged with murder in Perkins’ death.
Sharonda Acklin lives on Ryan Drive, where the Perkins family was raising their children. Acklin describes Steve as a great community leader, and she wants the city to rename the block in his honor.
“The significance is the remembrance of a life that was ultimately taken entirely too soon,” said Acklin.
The house is where Catrela Perkins, the widow of Stephen Perkins, said they had planned to spend the rest of their lives.
“Ryan Drive has a significant meaning to the Perkins family and to me and Steve and the girls,” she explained. “When we got married, we lived on Ryan Drive, so it holds a lot of weight in my heart.”
During its regular session on Tuesday, all eight members of the Decatur Planning Commission agreed with Acklin and voted unanimously to move the process forward to rename.
The planning commission says that 75% of the homeowners on Ryan Drive would have to approve of the name change. Acklin said that through a petition, she is three names away from approval.
“Steve was an asset to the community and going out and taking a consensus of how the people that live on Ryan Drive feel, we have a super majority,” said Acklin. “They feel the way that we feel and are honored to remember his legacy in this manner.”
The Decatur City Council is set to meet for a work session on Monday April 28, before the measure is up for a vote at the next council meeting.
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