Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce celebrates DeKalb County’s 4 black women mayors

DeKalb County, GA—A crowd turned out for the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s Wednesday Luncheon on Jan. 15, 2025 to welcome four black women mayors from Dekalb County: Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble; Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks; Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones; and Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds.

As trailblazers in their respective cities, the women shared insights into their communities’ successes, challenges, and their commitment to collaborative governance. Their camaraderie was on full display as the keynote speakers discussed how they are moving their cities forward.

“I promise you I can tell you about each one…,” said Mayor Jazzmin Cobble, who was the final speaker and drew laughter from the audience as she leaned from her seat, looked along the row and  related something personal about each of the women.

Cobble said that collaborating with one another has allowed them to learn from one another and share information. She said she especially appreciated the opportunity as the mayor of a young city, now 7 years old.

About the 4 Black Women Mayors:

Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble leads DeKalb County’s largest municipality covering 38 square miles with an estimated 61,147 residents. The municipality was formed in 2016 through an Act of the General Assembly in 2016. Cobble, a former member of the City Council, was sworn in as mayor in 2022, becoming the city’s first female mayor and the second mayor in the city’s short history. Key destinations in the city include The Mall at Stonecrest, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve, Flat Rock Archives, and the AWARE Wildlife Rescue Center.

Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks represents an estimated 14,756 residents. Clarkston is noted for its ethnic diversity The city, which proclaims itself as the “Ellis Island of the South,” also is often called “the most diverse square mile in America” where half of its population are refugees and immigrants from more than 50 countries.

Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones represents an estimated 6,627 residents. The city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its antebellum homes and granite buildings, and  Shermantown, one of DeKalb County’s oldest black communities. The city is located near Stone Mountain, Park, home to the largest exposed granite rock monolith in the world.

Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds represents an estimated 2,557 residents. The city’s downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Key sites include the Lithonia Woman’s Club, located next to the Ruth Carol Dally Johnson Interpretive Garden, a pocket park that includes the Historical Gateway to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in neighboring city of Stonecrest. The Lithonia Amphitheater, known for its outdoor concerts, also is located within 

Pictured L-R: Greater Lithonia Chamber President Gregory Williams; Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds; Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble; Clarkston Mayor Beverly Burks; Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones; facilitator Teresa Hardy, and Lance Hammonds, the Chamber’s membership chair. 

Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com