Celebration of Life plans announced for former Georgia senator Vincent D. Fort

ATLANTA – Celebration of Life and internment plans have been announced for former Georgia State Senator Vincent D. Fort, who died Sunday at the age of 68.

Fort was first elected to the State Senate from the 39th District in 1996 and was reelected 10 times. He represented parts of Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City, and unincorporated Fulton County.

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During his tenure, Fort served as the Democratic Whip in the Senate and was a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary-Civil, Judiciary-Criminal, Education and Youth, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Interstate Cooperation, Urban Affairs, and MARTA Oversight Committees. He also chaired the Retirement Committee, Interstate Cooperation Committee, and the Fulton County Senate Delegation.

Fort authored Georgia’s first hate crimes law in 2001, designed to provide enhanced penalties for defendants who intentionally selected their victims due to bias or prejudice. That same year, he authored a predatory lending law, which became the foundation for the strongest legislation of its kind, passed in 2002. Fort gained national recognition as a leader in the fight against predatory lending and foreclosures. He also authored a law that increased disabled access to housing.

Additionally, Fort secured $40 million in funding for buildings at Atlanta Technical College and Atlanta Metropolitan College.

In 2017, Fort ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Keisha Lance Bottoms. In 2022, he ran for Georgia’s 13th congressional district. 

Details:

• Lying in State: Jan. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Atlanta City Hall, old council chambers, 68 Mitchell Street.
• Family Hour and Masonic Last Rites: Jan. 3, 6 p.m., at Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, West End Chapel.
• Celebration of Life: Jan. 4, 1 p.m., at Lindsay Street Baptist Church, 550 Lindsay Street NW, Atlanta.
• Interment: South-View Cemetery, Jonesboro Road.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be made to: