MANSFIELD — The name of the late Rev. Verdell Larson will live on in Mansfield history.
Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening is expected to vote on legislation adding Larson’s name to a section of Miller Street near the church he pastored for half a century.
Members of Providence Baptist Church spoke with local lawmakers in August to request the honor for Larson, who died in 2012 at age 92.
The move would place Larson’s name on a small section of Miller Street — running parallel to the building’s east side on West Sixth Street.
Born in Kentucky, Larson lived in Mansfield for the last 68 years of life. He was co-owner of the Silver Streak Cab Company, which was Mansfield’s first Black-owned cab company. He later became an independent insurance agent for the Supreme Life Insurance Company.
Larson was the assistant pastor at the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church before becoming the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in 1956, where he remained for the next 50 years.
He retired in 2006 as pastor emeritus from his pastoral duties.
Larson was involved in the community, serving on many boards such as Inter-City Council of Churches, Volunteers of America, Habitat For Humanity Committee, and president of the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and the NAACP.
Last month, congregation member Joetta McCruter-Polk told council Providence Baptist will celebrate its 71st anniversary in October and would like to have an honorary street sign by that time.
“He (Larson) was a very selfless man,” she told council. “He contributed a lot not only to his church, but to the community.
“This street sign will be a beacon of honor, encouragement and a stationary reminder that diligence, commitment, love and hard work can be accomplished for anyone who looks up and sees that,” she said.
Also on Tuesday, City Council is scheduled to:
— vote on legislation authorizing a payment up to $85,000 to North Central State College to train nine new police officers for the Mansfield Police Department. The proposal was approved by the city’s board of control earlier this month.
— vote on legislation accepting a $15,968 grant from the Richland County Foundation to improve the Mansfield Police Department breakroom.
— vote on legislation accepting a $63,890 grant from Richland Public Health for improvements at Sterkel, Central, Maple Lake, Prospect and King Street city parks.
— vote on legislation accepting a $2,175 from the Richland County Foundation for new trash cans at Sterkel Park.
(Below is a PDF with the legislation scheduled to go before Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening.)
