The city of Chattanooga is mourning the loss of Moses Freeman Jr., a former councilman, educator, community leader and civil rights icon. Mr. Freeman, 86, passed away on Aug. 3, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of service and advocacy that spanned decades.
Mr. Freeman’s impact on Chattanooga was profound. At 74, he won a council seat in District 8, representing neighborhoods such as Oak Grove, Orchard Knob, Avondale, Bushtown, Churchville, Lincoln Park, Fortwood, M. L. King, Ferger Place, and parts of Highland Park and East Chattanooga.
During his tenure from 2013 to 2017, he championed initiatives to improve infrastructure, reduce crime, and increase economic opportunities in underserved areas.
Beyond his role as a councilman, Mr. Freeman was a lifelong educator and mentor. A graduate of The Howard School, he returned to his alma mater to teach in the 1960s, inspiring countless young minds. He also served as a Boys Club director and a program analyst for the Model Cities project, which was Chattanooga’s first foray into metro government.
Mr. Freeman demonstrated a steadfast commitment to social justice. He was a prominent member of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and a vocal advocate for civil rights. He played a key role in the revitalization of downtown neighborhoods through his leadership of the Neighborhood Services Department and the Community Impact Fund.
Additionally, he served as a revitalization specialist at the Lyndhurst Foundation and was owner/developer at Urban Development Corporation.
As a developer, Mr. Freeman built six affordable homes in the Martin Luther King neighborhood, choosing to live in one himself.
Mr. Freeman studied history at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and studied teaching at Tennessee State.
John Edwards, publisher and CEO of the Chattanooga News Chronicle and a colleague of Mr. Freeman’s, remembers him as a “friend” and a dedicated public servant.
“Moses Freeman was a friend whom I relied on for wise counsel,” Mr. Edwards said. “When I started the Chattanooga News Chronicle, over 30 years ago, I asked him what issues should be prominent and of focus for a Black newspaper. He replied, ‘Make sure to let our youth know about our victories!’ Moses spoke out on Civil Rights for Black Chattanoogans and was consistent in performing civic duties that made Chattanooga a better place for all Chattanoogans. Yes! He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. And, yes! The legacy of Moses Freeman Jr. and his civic contributions are forever etched in Chattanooga History.”
In Mr. Freeman, District 28 state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem found a spiritual brother.
“The passing of my brother in Christ, Moses Freeman Jr., was heart breaking for me,” Rep. Hakeem said. “He shared himself with me through his knowledge, wisdom and love of life. I will remember him as a true friend and servant of the people.”
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said, “Ginny and I, along with all Chattanoogans, mourn the loss of Moses Freeman, a civil rights icon and former city councilman. Chattanooga is a better place thanks to his lifetime of dedicated service and love for his hometown. His example will continue to inspire our community for years to come.”
Mr. Freeman shared in his Facebook bio: “I was very proud to be the first high school graduate on both sides of my mother’s and father’s families. I was encouraged by my aunts and uncles and others to do so. Being poor, I never anticipated college, but college I went–instead of the navy as I had wanted. I had an uncle who went to the navy and looked good in his uniform. In college, I did not distinguish myself academically, but I had fun and more fun. It was only in my senior year that I became serious (somewhat) when the opportunity presented itself to hear Dr. M. L. King Jr. at Fisk University. As a result, I became a sit-inner and was arrested twice in Nashville at the downtown Walgreen and at the greyhound bus station. These two events would become defining moments for me until this very day. I had one more arrest with police abuse in Chattanooga, and was encouraged to not report or pursue the issue since I was seeking employment in the public school system. There is so much more since life began for me thereafter.”
The family will receive friends on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 2-6 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave. A funeral service will be held on Monday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at Second Missionary Baptist Church, 2305 E. Third St. Interment will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens, 2116-2124 Shepherd Rd.