Atlanta, GA
Quincy Jones remembered by Atlanta civil rights leaders as an ally in the movement
Xernona Clayton-Brady remembers Quincy Jones’ Civil Rights involvement
Quincy Jones’ music holds a special place in the hearts of millions. But, his Civil Rights involvement made him an undeniable historical figure. In the way of his death, Xernona Clayton-Brady sat down with FOX 5 Atlanta’s Joi Dukes to retell some of his best stories.
ATLANTA – Tributes continue to pour in for legendary producer and composer Quincy Jones, who passed away Sunday night. In Atlanta, Jones is not only being remembered for his contributions in music, but also for his role in the civil rights movement.
“He always answered the call,” civil rights icon Xernona Clayton told FOX 5.
As the world prepares to say its goodbyes to the man whose music touched millions of lives, Clayton and other giants in the civil rights movement are saying goodbye to a friend and ally in the fight for equality.
Clayton, now 94 years-old, says she remembers her friend Quincy Jones as a man who stood firmly with activists as they took on the system.
“He was the man you read about with all this talent,” she said. “When there was time to get a concert together, a fundraiser, he’d help do that…so it was a group of talented people raising money for the civil rights movement,” she continued.
The woman, once credited with convincing a KKK Grand Dragon to step down from the organization, tells FOX 5 she met Jones in Los Angeles in the early 1960s before moving to Atlanta with her then-husband Ed Clayton.
“He was funny and fun,” she recalled. “He would help everybody…I would hear of stories where he’d help a lot of people get in the industry.”
Jones would eventually begin helping the movement financially, assisting those who’d found themselves in jail or in the hospital.
“We were always in need of funds, and we had a list of the folk we knew could help and he was on our list,” Clayton stated.
She says while she was heartbroken to hear about his passing, his contributions will not be forgotten, and his life’s work was complete.
“I was feeling sad because you can’t call him anymore,” she said.
Jones will be honored at a memorial service on Nov. 14, in Los Angeles, where family, friends, and fans are expected to gather in his memory.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
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