The Clarke County Board of Supervisors gave a proclamation in honor of Cleveland “Baba” Peebles at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, March 4, and presented it to Baba’s wife, Gloria Peebles.
For those who were able to work alongside Baba at any point in life, they fondly remembered his easy-going nature and strong sense of humor.
“He was a good man. He was a personal friend of mine. When I first got on here in 2012, he trained me. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad, but he trained me,” recalled Board President Darrick Marshall. “We had some great times with Baba. If you knew Baba, there wasn’t a dull moment. There wasn’t a dull moment with him. He never got mad. No matter what somebody said to him, he’d just say, ‘Ahh, let’s don’t worry ‘bout that; let’s just go on.’ He was a good man. You had a good husband.”
After reminiscing on different moments with Baba over the years, the following proclamation was read aloud to honor him:
WHEREAS, Clarke County and the Town of Shubuta lost a valued public servant and personality on February 3, 2024, with the death of Cleveland Wesley “Baba” Peebles; and,
WHEREAS, Baba was elected to the Board of Aldermen of his beloved hometown of Shubuta serving from July 1, 1981, to June 30, 1989, as the town’s first African American Alderman; and,
WHEREAS, thereafter Baba became the first African American member of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors (the “Board”) on which he served the citizens of Clarke County for six (6) terms from January 6, 1991, to December 31, 2015; and,
WHEREAS, upon leaving the Board, Baba was elected Mayor of the Town of Shubuta, a position in which he served from July 6, 2017, until his death; and,
WHEREAS, Baba was dedicated to serving the citizens of Clarke County and the Town of Shubuta which he did with distinction; and,
WHEREAS, Baba’s sense of humor, energy and spirit enriched those fortunate enough to know and work with him.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Board of Supervisors of Clarke County recognizes the significant contributions of Cleveland Wesley “Baba” Peebles to the Board, the citizens of Clarke County and the Town of Shubuta over the course of his career as a public servant and mourn his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board extends its sincerest condolences to Baba’s family and many friends.
