Beloved reverend, commissioner honored with a street named after him in Macon

Part of Millerfield Road, running from Century Place to Finney Circle, was renamed Dr. Lonzy Edwards Way Tuesday to honor the former Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards who died in 2016.

Edwards served as a commissioner for East Macon between 2007 and 2013, and was campaigning to be mayor of Macon-Bibb County at the time of his death on April 29, 2016.

Edwards was born in Sparta, and was a graduate of Knoxville College, Yale Divinity School and Duke University School of Law. He settled in Macon to build a career as an attorney, and later founded the firm Edwards & Youmas, LLC.

He found a passion for public service in Macon, being involved with both the Republican and Democratic parties at different points in his life. He worked as an executive assistant for external affairs to former Macon Mayor George Israel prior to his stint as a commissioner.

After he retired from law, Edwards turned to the church, becoming a pastor at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church — which is located along the newly christened Dr. Lonzy Edwards Way.

Friends, family members and former colleagues of Edwards gathered at the church Tuesday to unveil the new street signs and remember his life of service.

“It warms my heart to see so many people here who remember what he tried to do with what time he had,” said Nancy Edwards, Edwards’ widow.

District 3 Commissioner Stanley Stewart remembered Edwards as a tireless advocate for East Macon — the area he now represents.

“We not only encapsulate the memory of Rev. Dr. Lonzy Edwards by this street dedication, but let generations more know of his service and dedication to this community,” Stewart said. “East Macon is a very special and magical village.”

Macon Water Authority Board Member Elaine Lucas, who formerly served on the Macon-Bibb County Commission and was a close friend of Edwards, remembered him as a servant leader

“Lonzy Edwards was an icon in the community … he earned all the accolades” Lucas said. “All the good things we are thinking today, he earned all that.”

Lucas authored the ordinance proposing the name change and presented it to the commission in February 2024. It passed unanimously, and was quickly signed by Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller.

Dr. Lonzy Edwards Way isn’t the only feature in Macon that bears Edwards’ name, though. An East Macon fire station that was completed in 2017, a little over a year after his death, was also named in honor of Edwards.