NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A portion of Clarksville Pike now bears the name of the late Sen. Thelma Harper, the first Black woman elected to the Tennessee Senate.

A community ceremony was held Saturday at the Bordeaux Library at 4000 Clarksville Pike to dedicate a portion of the highway in Harper’s honor. Sen. Charlane Oliver hosted the event after helping pass legislation for the highway dedication.

Harper represented North Nashville for nearly 3 decades and served 8 years on Nashville’s Metro Council before her time in the state Senate. Clarksville Pike was the road she traveled daily on her way to the Tennessee legislature.

Those who gathered remembered Harper for her signature crown and her proud sorority red — colors that filled the crowd at the ceremony.

“Giant, legend, icon, pioneer, trailblazer, diva, hellraiser.”

“Senator Harper understood that public service is ultimately about showing up for people.”

Harper’s hat collection was also a well-known part of her public identity.

“A lady in hats made the public aware. In a interview, she said, ‘Look, I have hair.’”

Jamie Isabel recalled working alongside Harper from the very beginning of her political career.

“I worked in her first campaign in 1983. She was so special because she saw everyone as her kid.”

Harper’s influence extended beyond her legislative work, serving as a visible example for those who came after her.

“You can’t be what you can’t see… She gave me an opportunity to see where I could possibly be one day,” said Isabel.

Harper’s daughter, Linda Harper, attended the ceremony and said she felt her mother’s presence there.

“I remember seeing my father tell me, ‘Well Linda, it’s going to be okay because your mom is fighting for more than just our family.’”

Linda Harper said she sees the Bordeaux community now and is reminded of what her mother fought for — the people and their way of life. She said preserving the neighborhood’s character remains important.

“We need to keep our existing businesses because most of them are mom-and-pop shops.”

“So to me, I just want to say #ShopBordeaux.”

Oliver, who is running for re-election for District 19 — the same seat held by the late Harper — reflected on what she hopes people take away from the dedication.

“Remember, remember that big smile, that big hat, but most importantly remember a fierce legislator beyond boundaries.”

Oliver previously spoke about what Harper’s legacy means to her:

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Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Amanda.Roberts@NewsChannel5.com

MADISON, Ala. (WAFF) – A Madison family says a safety feature in the Life360 app helped their loved ones react quickly after a crash on an interstate in Tennessee.

The Claytons were traveling back to Madison, Alabama, after a visit to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, when they saw another vehicle suddenly cut them off and T-bone their car.

Gerald Clayton’s daughter, Tiffany, was in Atlanta when she says her phone sounded an alert she’d never heard before.

“My phone does this crazy notification I’ve never heard, and I look down, and it says something like detected that Gerald might have been in a collision.”

Tiffany said Life360 noted the event could have been something minor like a dropped phone but flagged a sudden movement consistent with a collision.

Gerald Clayton said he was riding in the back seat. His sister was driving, and his brother-in-law was in the front passenger seat.

“Basically, cut us off and I’m looking at this saying to myself, this is not going to end well.”

He said he braced for impact.

“So I just slipped my left hand between my seatbelt and my chest because I knew that the impact was going to be really severe.”

Clayton says the crash fractured his sternum.

“It’s like somebody hitting you in the stomach and knocking the air out of you.”

Tiffany said when her father didn’t answer, she began making calls including to her mother in Huntsville to figure out what was happening.

Life360’s crash detection also prompted an in-app check-in.

“The app basically shows me in motion at 60 miles an hour. And then all of a sudden, it shows me at zero. So then I get this instant message from the app, you know, are you okay? Do you need to call the paramedics or anything like that?”

Life360 includes a free option for location tracking and crash detection. Tiffany said the incident showed her the benefit of having those tools while family members are on the road.

“This is something I think can provide that extra layer of safety and visibility on people that you care about.”

Clayton agreed.

“Without a doubt. I mean, I can see the benefits of it, especially when you’re traveling.”

Wear your seatbelt. If you’re traveling, make sure someone knows your route and consider enabling safety features on your phone or apps you already use.

Clayton remained in the hospital for four days recovering while his sister and brother-in-law were released within hours of the wreck. He credits wearing his seatbelt for the outcome.

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