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An ordinance providing the honorary street name designation of “Pastor Barton Harris Way” for a portion of Albion Street.
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WHEREAS, Pastor Barton Elliot Harris was a pastor, educator, and Nashville native; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Harris was born in North Nashville and raised in the faith community of Westwood Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Harris was a gifted student graduating from Pearl High School as the president of the Honor Society, before going on to Fisk University; and
WHEREAS, while at Fisk University, Pastor Harris served as president of the campus chapter of the Baptist Student Union, and later president of the national Baptist Student Union. Pastor Harris graduated magna cum laude from Fisk University earning a Protestant Fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation; and
WHEREAS, while in Boston, Pastor Harris taught at St. Francis de Sales School. He later became the principal and led the school to national recognition, including a feature in the New York Times; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, Pastor Harris returned to Nashville to become pastor of Westwood Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Pastor Harris, Westwood Baptist expanded its footprint in North Nashville, expanding to more than twenty properties include three annex buildings, and rental housing properties; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Harris continued to invest in students, as he taught mathematics at Tennessee State University and later at McMurry Middle School; and
WHEREAS, while at McMurray, Pastor Harris helped to organize the “Men of Distinction”, wherein African American male students connected with African American male teachers to promote scholarship, leadership, and character. In 1995, Pastor Harris was recognized as Teacher of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Harris, who passed away on September 24, 2026, was known to be a kind and generous man who left behind a legacy of excellence and encouraged others to do the same; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council memorialize Pastor Barton Elliot Harris through an honorary street renaming on Albion Street in front of Westwood Baptist Church, the church community where he grew up and then led for 37 years; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 13.08 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws provides for the designation of honorary street names and signs without amending the Official Street and Alley Acceptance and Maintenance Map for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and without requiring residents and businesses to change their address.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Albion Street between 25th Avenue North and 26th Avenue North is hereby designated with the honorary street name of “Pastor Barton Harris Way”.
Section 2. This honorary street designation will not require any resident or business located on South 11th Street to change its street address.
Section 3. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure is hereby authorized and directed, upon the enactment and approval of this Ordinance, to install the appropriate signage designating this section of roadway as “Pastor Barton Harris Way” in accordance with section 13.08.025 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.