CAMILLA, Ga. (WALB) - The Haywood family remembers Mary Jo Haywood, who made history in Camilla City Hall as the first African American woman to lead the city as mayor. Haywood passed away on Friday, April 24, at 77 years old.

“She has been my moral compass,” Dr. Chanta Haywood, Mayor Haywood’s daughter, said. “She has instilled in me all of the values that I hold. She has shaped me and molded me into who I am.”

Historic leadership and community impact

Haywood served as mayor from 2008 to 2012, becoming the first African American and woman to do so. Her daughter says these firsts changed the face of local government.

“I realized at a very early age that she was my mother, and she was great,” Chanta Haywood said. “But there was something about her that was bigger than me. And I saw that even when I was a child, that my mother belonged to something big. And it was the community. And it was to a calling.”

Mayor Haywood was instrumental in bringing Camilla’s first Black law firm to the city. She led voter registration and education campaigns and fought for equity in city employment.

Her advocacy work began decades before her time as mayor. Chanta Haywood recalled watching her mother participate in civil rights protests in the 1970s.

“I’m a little girl watching my mother be locked up and kids picking at me because my mother was in jail and learning that it was because she was out there protesting and advocating,” she said. “A lot of what she was doing is a direct result to many of the systemic and systematic policies and processes that are in place right now in Camilla.”

A life of faith and service

Mayor Haywood’s famous quote during her 2024 Proclamation Day was that she hoped to fulfill “God’s Plan” for Camilla. Her family says she did just that.

“I think that if my mother could talk right now to people who are sorrowful, mourning, and lamenting her passing, she would call upon us to reflect upon what it is that our mission is,” she said. “Identify that calling and ensure that it is one that’s inclusive, and then don’t betray it.”

Community support and remembrance

The family says the community’s support has been overwhelming and appreciated.

“The support from the community has been overwhelmingly great,” Chanta Haywood said. “They have been exceedingly supportive, very liberal in their praise of her and her contributions, not just to the community.”

Chanta Haywood said the family has received many messages from community members, sharing personal stories about her mother.

“The theme in those responses reveal a person who was very kind and quiet, confidential,” she said. “She was a confidant to a lot of people. She held secrets close. She was very generous. She did not have a lot of means but whatever she did have if someone was in need she was very generous with it.”

The family invites the community to Haywood’s homegoing service, May 2 at Open Door Church in Camilla, Georgia. The service starts at 3 p.m.

The city of Camilla Mayor Pro Tem and councilmember, Dewayne Burley, released a statement regarding Haywood’s passing.

The City of Camilla extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who were touched by the life and legacy of the Honorable Mary Jo Haywood.

Mayor Haywood served as the first African American and first female mayor of Camilla, Georgia, from 2008 to 2012. Elected on November 6, 2007, and sworn in on January 14, 2008, she served one full term with distinction. Her leadership marked a historic milestone for our city and helped pave the way for future generations.

Even before her election as Mayor, Mayor Haywood was a champion for equal rights and fairness within our community. She was a strong voice for promoting equality within city employment—efforts that can still be seen throughout the City today. At a time when representation within City Hall was limited, she broke barriers and advocated for those who often felt unheard.

In February 2024, the City of Camilla honored her legacy by naming the executive meeting chamber at City Hall the “Honorable Mary Jo Haywood Council Chambers,” a lasting tribute to her contributions and service.

On a personal note, I take great comfort in knowing that I had the opportunity to speak with and text with Mayor Haywood regularly, especially in recent months. She was a trusted advisor who understood the weight of leadership and what it means to stand on policy, even when others may not fully understand. Her guidance and steady voice were a source of strength, and I will carry those lessons forward. She will be deeply missed.

We join her family and the community in remembering and celebrating her life, her leadership, and her many contributions to the City of Camilla.

The City of Camilla will honor her legacy by flying the City of Camilla flag at half-staff until Monday in her honor.

Respectfully,

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