Centreville Press – Reporter
January 5, 1976
Brent – It was hard to comprehend the devastation that night of May 27, 1973, the night Brent was destroyed.
Workers had hacked a narrow path through the fallen trees, splintered lumber and chunks of concrete where a short time before a tornado had whizzed along Brent’s main road.
It is just hard now to believe that it happened. There are no powerlines to snake and pop as you roll over them. For a long time, the toppled steeple of Brent Baptist Church became a more prominent reminder of the devastating tornado but even it has been repaired and remodeled and now is a modern version of its former self. BUT ON THAT NIGHT, too, people were saying that the town was wiped out and it would never rebuild. They envisioned broad expanses where old stores had crowded the road.
But there were some like Fred Davis (he was Bibb County Probate judge then) who could not yield to pessimism. He simply said, “Brent will be rebuilt.” There were others who believed and their faith caught hold and “Brent will be rebuilt” became a continuing echo. Now, Davis has devised a plan to the people of Brent and Bibb County. The town will be re-dedicated.
In ways to pay homage to the people who would not say die,” Davis said. “You’re sitting in a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado. It has taken long months and a lot of tedious work – blood, sweat and tears – but they have built it back.”
The program will center around entertainment by country singers Freddy Fender and Tammy Wynette, the gospel singing former governor of Louisiana Jimmy Davis and Birmingham entertainer Country Boy Eddy. Tom York, a Birmingham television announcer, will emcee the entertainment.
A trade day, featuring arts and crafts also, will be spread around the town. There also will be displays by area schools and community organizations.
Davis, who is personally financing the project, hopes that a trade day event will become a regular attraction in the town, being scheduled two or three times a year. But with the entertainment that is lacking at other such affairs, he hopes it will be of a higher caliber than most.
BUT THE TRADE DAY would also create a good business day for the county merchants, one they would not ordinarily have.
He said 5,000 people are expected to attend, but he said some have estimated that as many as 20,000 could show up.
Gov. George Wallace has proclaimed the day “Brent Dedication and Thanksgiving Day” and the Bibb County Commission has proclaimed it a holiday for county employees.
Davis was elected mayor of Brent on a write-in campaign in 1959, was elected a state representative in 1963 and probate judge in 1970.
He retired as probate judge with two years remaining I his term in January for health reasons.
He said he was financing the program because he loves the people here and because they have trusted him for many years with elective offices.
Since the storm, there has been built a new city hall at about $260,000, a new $500,000 bank, a shopping plaza of about seven stores and several other businesses.
(Edited/flh)