Bellevue community chef carried on father’s legacy, Macon-Bibb official says
A vigil is scheduled for Friday night at a popular restaurant founded by a Bellevue community fixture.
The gathering will honor the life of Alfreda Lockett, who cooked up meals at Me Maw’s Restaurant on Mumford Road. She is the daughter of Filmore Thomas, once known as the mayor of Bellevue. A Macon-Bibb County proclamation will be presented at her funeral in honor of her efforts in the community, County Commissioner Al Tillman said.
Lockett’s celebration of life ceremony will be held noon Saturday at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, followed by a burial at Macon Memorial Park. She passed away unexpectedly on Monday.
The Macon-Bibb proclamation outlines Lockett’s accomplishments and declares Dec. 2, 2017, as Alfreda Lockett Day. Friday’s vigil begins at 5:30 p.m. at the restaurant, 4254 Mumford Road.
“She sort of became a second mom not only to me but to others,” Tillman said. “Each Veterans Day she would open her restaurant to not only feed veterans, but she fed the community as a whole.”
After a 30-year career that began as a telephone operator at BellSouth, Lockett retired in 2000 to help take care of her parents. But food was her passion, and she attracted large crowds while serving dishes at a neighborhood market. That led to her opening Me Maw’s Restaurant.
Lockett and her restaurant were featured in profiles published in The Telegraph and Southern Living magazine.
She graduated from culinary school at Helms College and was set to receive her associate degree in psychology from Middle Georgia State University in December.
In the last couple of years, Lockett was on hand at various ceremonies celebrating Filmore Thomas Park, which opened off Log Cabin Drive in 2016.
“She didn’t turn away anybody,” Tillman said. “I think she followed in her father’s legacy as far as being a community person.”
Stanley Dunlap: 478-744-4623, @stan_telegraph
This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Bellevue community chef carried on father’s legacy, Macon-Bibb official says."