CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council approved several resolutions Thursday night to name areas several around Clarksville after local Black leaders who made an impact on the community.

The list of community leaders being honored includes Harry Galbreath, Pastor Raliegh A. Jones, Officer Otis L. Martin and Virginia Martin Hatcher. The Clarksville Street Department will make and install appropriate signage for each community leader in the near future, according to city documents.

Harry Galbreath, Exit 11

First up, the city is looking to give Exit 11 the official designation of “Home of Harry Galbreath” to honor the University of Tennessee and NFL star.

Galbreath attended Clarksville High School, where he was an accomplished high school football prospect. During his time with the Wildcats, he earned all-district, all-midstate and all-state honors as an offensive lineman, according to previous reports.

His play ultimately captured the attention of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Johnny Majors. This led the offensive lineman to commit to play for the school in 1984, where he appeared in 34 games as a starter from his sophomore year to his senior season. During that same time period, Galbreath was named to the All-SEC team three times and earned All-American honors two out of the three years.

In addition, he was given the Jacobs Trophy in 1987, an award given to the SEC’s top blocker. UT labeled him “the most dominating and aggressive run blocker Johnny Majors ever coached.”

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Galbreath was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1988 NFL Draft during the eighth round. The offensive lineman played in the NFL from 1988-96 for the likes of the Dolphins, Packers and Jets. According to Pro-Football Reference, Galbreath started in 131 games out of the 141 games he played in. Galbreath retired from the NFL in 1996 and ended up returning to Clarksville to coach at APSU.

He also was active in the community off the field with the National Incarcerated Parents and Families Network, which is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide support and education for families of incarcerated parents, according to the resolution.

Galbreath passed away at the age of 45 in 2010, but his legacy lives on throughout Montgomery County. A Memory Rock was erected at Clarksville High in honor of him. Football players rub the rock for good luck before each game.

Pastor Raliegh A. Jones, B Street

Another community leader being recognized is Pastor Raliegh A. Jones Sr. at B Street.

According to city documents, Jones served as the pastor of the Greenhill Church from 1989 to 2008. When he arrived in Clarksville, he came to the city with a vision and translated that vision into action, extending far beyond the walls of the church.

“He was a pillar in the community and instrumental in bringing people together in both sacred and secular spaces,” said the resolution. “He had a passion for seeing the Clarksville community be better overall, and hosted a yearly health fair, and was also an advocate for diabetes awareness.”

Jones was the founder and CEO of Greenhill Human Development Corporation, a nonprofit established to serve members of the community.

“GHDC first received a grant from the State of TN to sponsor Project SAVE (Strengthening Adolescents Values and Esteem),” the resolution said. “From there, other youth programs and the first ever community Back to School Bash with the theme: Back to School with Jesus on My Mind (a song written by Pastor Raliegh, in collaboration with his wife). The Raliegh A. Jones Sr. Back to School Bash serviced thousands of children and families for over 20 years.”

Otis L Martin and Virginia Martin Hatcher

Lastly, the city will recognize two additional Clarksville leaders on the corner of Poston and College Street for the “Beloved community of Officer Otis L. Martin and civil rights leader Virginia Martin Hatcher.”

Martin was a World War II veteran and owned one of the first Black soul food restaurants in Clarksville, named Virginia’s Cafe, located at 908 College St. From 1950 until his death in 1976, Martin and his family “fed the homeless, clothed the naked and housed the homeless,” according to the resolution. He also established a card file to allow customers to pay weekly, or even monthly, for the meals they ate.

Martin also served as a police officer in Clarksville for 11 years at a time when Black policemen were not allowed to use patrol cars. While on duty, Martin was injured when a car backed into him, hitting his leg. Martin’s injury prompted him to have surgery, but even with the pain that followed, he continued to serve and protect his community.

Martin was also a deacon for 21 years at the Fifth Ward Baptist Church.

MORE: 10 Black leaders who helped shape Clarksville’s history

Hatcher was a local civil rights leader. Alongside Martin, Hatcher “took care of the welfare of the elderly, managed their money, paid their bills and bought their groceries.”

Councilperson Wanda Smith, who is the daughter of Martin and Hatcher, told Clarksville Now, “It’s an honor to recognize a civil rights leader who had fought so hard for the poor white people, as well the poor Blacks. All of her life, I followed her footsteps … but I think it’s an honor and I’m happy to know this is the first time she’s being honored after all of these years.

“Clarksville is changing, Clarksville is doing better in a sense of civil rights and recognizing African Americans for their accomplishments. As we know that American history is Black history. Even though it was not in the textbooks when I went to school,” Smith said.

“Our history wasn’t talked about, but it’s important. If you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know what you want from the future.”

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