Death of former City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, 72
Civil rights icon and Detroit city council veteran JoAnn Watson dies at 72 [[freep.com)
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Former Detroit city councilwoman and celebrated civil rights activist JoAnn Watson has died.
Watson served on the Detroit City Council from 2003 through 2013. In her first run for office, she defeated presumed front-runner Gil Hill, a former Detroit police homicide chief who had become famous for his roles as Inspector Todd in three "Beverly Hills Cop" movies. Watson died Monday at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, according to Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit. She was 72.
Watson will be remembered for devoting her life to promoting racial justice and for leading organizations that fought against racism. Her death, revealed Monday afternoon, is sure to bring accolades from metro Detroit's civil and human rights leaders, as well as Black leaders from across Michigan. Among the first to praise her was Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, who, in a news release, called Watson a "one-of-a-kind freedom fighter who loved her people and the Lord."
