​​Members of the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church community joined with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and city staff on Thursday to unveil a ceremonial street sign at the intersection of 14th and Jefferson streets that honors Bishop Alexis A. Thomas, the church's late senior pastor. The blue sign with white lettering was mounted on the mast arm of the southeast traffic signal pole to designate that section of 14th Street as Bishop Alexis A. Thomas Street.
WATCH: Ceremonial Street Signs Installed for Bishop Alexis A. Thomas Street​
Bishop Thomas passed away unexpectedly at age 50 on January 18, 2018. He was appointed the church's senior pastor at age 16 and grew the congregation from 200 to more than 4,000 members. He also was a civil rights activist and community advocate.
Thursday's memorial event was part of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church's ongoing centennial anniversary celebration, and the program began with an inspiration message delivered by Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Terry E. Mackey. Remarks also were given by Mayor Gallego, and church elders Jerry Barnes and Richard Yarbough. Two of Bishop Thomas' sons, Micah and Remone, were in attendance, and Remone gave remarks to memorialize his father.
Installation of the sign was approved by Phoenix City Council in April 2020, as part of the city's Ceremonial Street Sign Program that honors landmarks and people of historical significance.
In addition to his accomplishments as senior pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Bishop Thomas also was an active civil rights leader in Arizona for decades and the General Chairman of the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, which he founded in 2001. He also was the co-founder of the African American Strategic Alliance Coalition in Phoenix.
As part of the Ceremonial Street Sign Program, a requesting organization or individual is responsible for the fabrication, installation, maintenance and repair of ceremonial signs, which require City Council approval. The Street Transportation Department fabricates and installs all of the city's street name, speed limit and traffic control signs.​
