The celebration service for the first Black First Lady of Atlanta took place at Ebenezer Baptist Church Monday morning. Burnella Hayes Jackson-Ransom was the wife of Atlanta’s first Black Mayor Maynard Jackson when Jackson was elected in 1973.
On a cool morning family and friends, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, made their way into the church. Jackson-Ransom’s family were led to the church by an Atlanta Police Department.
Jackson-Ransom, 82, passed away surrounded by family Feb. 2, according to a release from the family. She spent a career as a trailblazer in the public relations and marketing profession.
The family asked that local media not be allowed inside the church for the service.