Former East Point Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard to join educators and community leaders in commemorating her late husband’s 93rd birthday and enduring impact on education
The East Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (EPCVB) will join Mayor Hilliard, educators and community leaders on Friday, August 21, for a special celebration at Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School honoring the life and educational legacy of renowned educator, scholar, and historian Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III. The celebration, held one day before what would have been Dr. Hilliard’s 93rd birthday, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School, 3353 Mount Olive Road in East Point.
Heading the celebration will be Dr. Hilliard’s wife, the Honorable Patsy Jo Hilliard, a trailblazing educator and public servant who became Georgia’s first elected African American woman mayor and went on to become the city’s longest-serving mayor. Mrs. Hilliard currently serves on the East Point CVB’s Board of Directors, supporting the city’s travel and tourism efforts. The activation brings together two legacies deeply connected to East Point: Dr. Hilliard’s lifelong commitment to education and cultural understanding and Mrs. Hilliard’s historic leadership and service to the community.
Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III dedicated his career to education, psychology, African history, and the academic success of children. He served as Dean of Education at San Francisco State University and later as the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University. His research, teaching, and advocacy influenced educators, school systems, and scholars throughout the United States and beyond.
His legacy remains especially visible in East Point through Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School, which bears his name and carries forward his commitment to educational excellence. As part of Friday’s celebration, a commemorative birthday cake will be presented to the school for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy. The East Point CVB will also provide special commemorative water bottles honoring Patsy Jo Hilliard as appreciation gifts for the school’s teachers.
“East Point has a rich history shaped by people whose leadership has reached far beyond our city, and Dr. Asa G. Hilliard and Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard are an extraordinary part of that story,” said Chantel Ross Francois, President of the East Point Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This celebration gives us an opportunity not only to remember Dr. Hilliard’s tremendous contribution to education, but also to recognize the educators who continue that work every day. Preserving the legacies of our community leaders means ensuring that the next generation understands the shoulders upon which they stand.”
The celebration reflects the East Point CVB’s broader commitment to highlighting the people, places and stories that make East Point a distinctive community and destination. By celebrating local history alongside the educators carrying that legacy forward, the East Point CVB continues to demonstrate that tourism and destination storytelling are also about honoring the people who have helped define a community.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III 93rd Birthday Legacy Celebration
When: Friday, August 21, 2026 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School, 3353 Mount Olive Road, East Point, GA 30344
Special Guest: The Honorable Patsy Jo Hilliard, former Mayor of East Point and East Point CVB Board Member
Annually Hosted/Supported By: The Hilliard Family
