Kenneth Everett - Known as Former Dothan Mayor - I Had Opportunity To Know As Friend

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Apr 27 2024 12:48 PM

DOTHAN:     This week Kenneth Everett passed from this life into to the arms of a loving GOD.

There are many that knew Kenneth Everett as Dothan’s Mayor from 1981 to 1985. I had the fortunate opportunity of growing up and knowing Kenneth Everett, his wife Ann, and two sons Mike and Bryant. As fellow church members and friends.

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Having been raised at Southside Baptist Church, the Everett’s were very active and dedicated members of Southside Baptist Church. You could always count on the fact, facing the pulpit of the church on the left side, the Everett family was there. And you could always count on when you passed the library you would see Ann Everett in the library working to serve others. The Everett’s, Kenneth Everett, was dedicated to Jesus Christ and in service to his church, Southside Baptist Church. He served as Deacon and Chairman of the Deacons.

The official name was Havatampa Cigar and Candy Company, but I always knew it as Dothan Cigar and Candy Company. I remember the years of going there with my dad and always seeing Kenneth Everett there. He worked with them for 11 years.

Then Mr. Everett worked with First Alabama Bank and I would see him when my dad would go into the bank. The Flowers family were the leaders of the bank that went from Dothan Bank and Trust to First Alabama Bank and is Regions today.

After 5 years in the banking business Mr. Everett went into the real estate business and has been very successful. He started Grand Villa Trailer Park, Pointe South Park, Granada Apartments and other real estate ventures.

In 1981 Kenneth Everett served Dothan as Mayor. He campaigned with a jar of red water about the dirty water in the City of Dothan. Having been in the banking business his first orders of business was obtaining financial statements on the status of Dothan. Something during his years in the banking business Mr. Flowers wanted in their meetings on the financial status of the bank.

Dothan staff looked in awe and surprise as this was something they had not done. But it was a task they quickly learned and was provided to Mayor Everett and the Commissioners. And probably Kenneth Everett knew the financial status of the City of Dothan, where every penny was in the City of Dothan, better than any individual. He was very conservative and worked to move Dothan forward.

Recently I pointed to someone when we were driving down the road looking at garbage cans beside the roads. I remarked the one man garbage trucks was first presented from 1981 to 1985 by then Dothan Mayor Kenneth Everett. As Mayor he had studied the pros and cons and thought it would be a good cost savings for Dothan. He even arranged for a test period of time by the manufacturer.

As politics would have it, often times those in elected positions are not concerned with what is best but who will get credit. Kenneth Everett was not looking for credit but what would help Dothan. But two sitting Dothan Commissioners were opposed. Stopped the demonstration because it was not their idea.

Decades later, Dothan and Houston County has one man garbage trucks. The original idea decades before by Kenneth Everett.

Shortly after Kenneth Everett assumed to role of Dothan’s Mayor, his wife Ann was diagnosed with cancer. So while managing Dothan he dealt with the love of his life undergoing cancer treatment and pain. Shortly after leaving office Mrs. Ann Everett passed away.

A word about Ann Everett. When I think of a lady the first that comes to my mind is Ann Everett. She fit the textbook definition of a lady. Always looked great, friend, helpful, compassionate. Words can not describe Ann Everett adequately.

Years later Kenneth Everett re-married. Again a luck man, he married Linda McDuffie. She had served as the Administrative Assistant to Dothan Police Chief. Linda McDuffie also fit the definition of a lady. Always kind, willing to talk and listen, be a friend, always carrying herself as a true lady. They made a great couple and both Kenneth and Linda loved each one’s children as their own.

Dothan is better today because Kenneth Everett served as Mayor. A successful businessman who contributed to jobs. Always loving people and Dothan and interested in people being successful.

PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY.

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