Chicago Street Renamed in Honor of Presiding Elder Albert D. Tyson, III
On August 14, 2021, scores of people gathered on the front lawn of St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church to commemorate the legacy of Presiding Elder Albert D. Tyson, III through the ceremonial renaming of a section of West Washington Boulevard as “Presiding Elder Albert D. Tyson III Way.” Tyson, pastor of St. Stephen from 1985-2011 and a well-respected Chicago community activist, died in 2019. At his death, he served as the presiding elder of the North District of the Chicago Annual Conference and the president of the Connectional Presiding Elders Council. Originally planned for 2020, the ceremony was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but allowed to proceed after restrictions on public gatherings were relaxed.
The master of ceremonies was the Rev. James C. Bailey, the current pastor of St. Stephen AME Church, who welcomed everyone to the celebration reminding those assembled that Tyson loved his church and community and did all that he could to serve them. The Rev. James Moody, the pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chicago, gave the occasion, and Dr. Walter D. Johnson, the pastor of Greater Institutional AME Church, Chicago, gave the invocation. Both were longtime friends of Presiding Elder Tyson and are pastors on the North District.
Several public officials and community activists gave tributes. Mr. Ernest Gates of the Near West Side Community Development Corporation reflected Tyson’s outsized character stating, “A street sign is a great thing, but it doesn’t speak to who the person is. He was our leader.” Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Superintendent Michael Eaddy, Congressman Danny K. Davis, and the Rev. James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church all spoke of Tyson’s leadership and ability to build the unlikeliest of coalitions to uplift the Garfield Park community and the city of Chicago as a whole.
After the community tributes, Sister Michal Patterson of Canaan AME Church, Maywood, performed a song that Tyson often sang before preaching, “Oh, it is Jesus.” Next, Tyson’s colleague, Presiding Elder Walter Bauldrick, Sr., gave brief remarks and introduced Bishop John F. White, Sr., the presiding prelate of the 4th Episcopal District. While reflecting with joy and pride on the celebration, Bishop White expressed his own bittersweet feelings, “I still miss my friend.” After the Bishop, Mr. Vance Henry, Chief of Faith Engagement for the City of Chicago, read a proclamation from Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Mrs. Robin H. Tyson gave remarks on behalf of her late husband’s family, thanking all the attendees. With pride, she reflected on her journey with the Rev. Tyson and the relationships he built to serve his community. “My husband thought he would be most effective if he could just get in the ‘room where it happened,’” she said. The ceremony closed with remarks from Alderman Walter Burnett of the 27th Ward, the unveiling of the street sign, and an outdoor reception.
