She Has Been a School Crossing Guard Since January 1979 and Has Lived in the Same House for 50 Years. On Monday Shelby County Voted to Put Her Name on Her Street.

MEMPHIS, August 24, 2026 - The Shelby County Commission voted 12 to nothing to grant an honorary street name change of Carterville Place in unincorporated Shelby County to Anna Harwell Place.

Miss Harwell was in the chamber for the vote. She had also been in the committee room five days earlier, where she waited through most of the morning to speak.

How it started

Commissioner Amber Mills, who sponsored the resolution, told the committee on August 19 that she had received a letter with a petition signed by Miss Harwell's neighbors requesting the honorary naming, describing her as a treasured figure in her community.

Miss Harwell's own account was simpler. She told the committee the thought came to her one day at home, and she decided to see if she could get the street named after her.

She said she has lived in her house for 50 years, that she has children and grandchildren in the North Haven area, and that they show her love and she wanted to show them some back by driving past and seeing a street with her name on it.

She said one of her sons had told her those people were not going to do that. She said she told him there is one thing you can know for sure, that you can either do it or not do it, and that it certainly would not happen if she did not try.

The record she brought with her

Miss Harwell told the Commission she has worked for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office since January 1979 and has been a school crossing guard the entire time. She said she is 80 years old and still working.

She told the committee she serves at North Haven and had mentioned another school as well. She said she had told Commissioner Mills she might not be able to attend the Monday meeting because she has to be at her crossing at 3:00, and that school was out that day, so she was able to come.

She said she has four sons, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and that all of them were excited about it.

Asked how long she had been a crossing guard, she answered January 1979 again. The chamber applauded.

The co-sponsors

Commissioner Henri E. Brooks, who chaired the committee that heard the item, pulled the resolution off the consent agenda for one reason: so that she could be added as a co-sponsor.

She told Miss Harwell she appreciated that she had decided there was something on her bucket list and stepped forward to go after it, and that she liked that spirit.

Commissioner Britney Thornton then moved to be added as a sponsor, and Chairwoman Shante K. Avant moved to be added as a co-sponsor. Each carried without objection.

Commissioner Thornton asked Miss Harwell not to forget to invite the commissioners who are rolling off the Commission to the street naming. Miss Harwell said everyone.

The vote

Aye votes came from Commissioner Michael Whaley, Commissioner Miska Clay Bibbs, Commissioner Charlie A. Caswell, Jr., Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, Commissioner Mills, Commissioner Matthew T. Szalaj, Commissioner Mick Wright, Commissioner Thornton, Commissioner Brandon G. Morrison, Commissioner Brooks, Vice Chair David C. Bradford, Jr. and Chairwoman Avant. Twelve aye votes.

It was one of two items that drew applause in the chamber that evening.

What happens next

The record shows the resolution was adopted. Commissioners asked to be told when the naming happens so they can attend, including several leaving office. The Commission adjourned its 2022 through 2026 term later the same evening.

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