Southfield officials remember Council member Lloyd Crews

SOUTHFIELD – Town of Southfield is in mourning following the demise of a longtime metropolis council member.

Lloyd Crews died on October 23 on the age of 51. Crews served on the Southfield Metropolis Council for 11 years.

Crews’ tenure on the council started in December 2014 when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat. He subsequently served on the council for greater than ten years, the place he gained the elections in 2015 and was re-elected in 2017 and 2021.

His final time period expired on the finish of this yr and he had determined to not stand for re-election.

Crews is survived by his spouse Stacey and his son.

Council President Professional Tem Charles Hicks has recognized Crews for greater than 25 years, and so they bonded over being in the identical fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., albeit at totally different colleges. He recalled first listening to of Crews’ need to run for political workplace when he noticed him searching for signatures to run for Southfield Metropolis Council.

“It is simply fascinating that sooner or later I might be part of him as a colleague after seeing him,” he mentioned. “He impressed me.”

Hicks described Crews as an introvert who had the flexibility to flip a swap and turn out to be very personable, caring and heat.

Though a quiet individual by nature, it was Crews’ means to hearken to others that made him a superb council member, Hicks mentioned.

“Lots of people speak, however they do not essentially hearken to what’s being mentioned,” Hicks mentioned. “He was the precise reverse. He was positively very observant and conscious of the way you have been feeling, how he might assist, and he wasn’t one to simply cross by. He would wish to be concerned.

“I feel what made him the perfect as a councilman was his means to say, ‘I do not know, however I am going to discover out,’” he continued. “Generally somebody simply desires to present you a solution to a query, however he desires to ensure he offers you probably the most knowledgeable reply attainable, and for me, I believed that made him extra of a large in our house.”

Crews earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma and a Grasp of Arts diploma in political science from Clark Atlanta College and a doctorate in academic management and coverage research from Wayne State College. He then labored in schooling for greater than 20 years, which led him to Oakland Group School for 12 years as dean and govt director and as a professor of political science, based on his biography on the town of Southfield’s web site.

Crews served on many native boards, together with the boards of the Boys and Women Membership of South Oakland County (Area Zone), the American Crimson Cross of Southeast Michigan, and as president of the Southfield Rotary Membership. He additionally served on the Southfield Partnership Council, MLK Jr. Variety Taskforce and was previous president of the Michigan School Personnel Affiliation, based on his biography.

Along with his metropolis service, Crews was recognized for his work mentoring younger males in Oakland County because the founding father of the OCC Man Up program.

“He had a ardour for giving again to everybody, at totally different ranges, and that carried over into his work with the neighborhood and the town,” Hicks mentioned.

Mayor Kenson Siver met Crews 14 years in the past when he was launched by former state Rep. Rudy Hobbs. After studying he was focused on operating for workplace, they organized to satisfy with then-Metropolis Councilman Jeremy Moss and realized of his curiosity in variety, fairness and inclusion and his work as a instructor, Siver mentioned.

“He was fairly mild-mannered. Actually very effectively educated. I by no means knew Lloyd to be notably demonstrative. He had a simple method,” Siver mentioned. “Form of a quiet humorousness. I loved working with him on the town council and as a good friend. There have been many instances after we would exit to dinner simply to talk.”

Together with former Councilman Myron Frasier, Siver mentioned they took Crews below their wing and advocated for him to be elected to the Metropolis Council in 2013. Though his marketing campaign was unsuccessful, he was appointed to Moss’s vacant seat a yr later after Moss was elected to the Michigan Home of Representatives.

“I feel he had sharp political insights,” Siver mentioned. “We definitely dwell in a time now the place political norms are being violated, and I do know he was shocked by a few of the issues which might be taking place. However he was a voice on the council.”

Moss, now a state senator, wrote in a Fb publish that he was heartbroken by his good friend’s demise, describing him as an “inspirational educator,” “progressive chief for Southfield” and a “joyfully likable individual to be round.”

“It is a devastating loss that feels painfully untimely,” he wrote. “He represented an ongoing generational change for Southfield’s management, requiring new and youthful voices to maneuver the town ahead.”

“Greater than something, Lloyd was pleasant, personable and all the time had a smile on his face,” Moss wrote. “I’ve numerous reminiscences of conferences, dinners and different occasions the place Lloyd held the eye of the room. He will likely be deeply missed. My coronary heart goes out to his spouse, son, household and plenty of associates.”

Each Hicks and Moss highlighted Crews’ time as council president, when he led the council by the appointment of a brand new police chief, the redevelopment of Northland Mall and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exterior of labor, Hicks mentioned Crews has lengthy been a proud single father to his son and a continuing anchor for his household.

“As a single father or mother and politician – despite the fact that he was married on the time of his demise – he did loads as a single father,” he mentioned. “While you hear loads about black males, younger black males abandoning households, he was the precise reverse. He was very household oriented. He took care of his dad and mom. His father, who continues to be alive, had plenty of well being issues. Lloyd made time to ensure his son was okay, and his household was okay too. That is what all of us should do, however not everybody does it.”

Crews’ viewing will likely be held on Sunday, November 2 from 3:00 PM to six:00 PM at Clora Funeral Residence, 5801 E. Seven Mile Highway in Detroit. The funeral will likely be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 3, at Second Ebenezer Church, 14601 Dequindre Highway in Detroit. The general public is welcome and invited to attend.