Dr. Janet Hodges Bragg recalled having once driven 160 miles from her home in Scottsboro to Tuscaloosa to hear her son sing The Star-Spangled Banner at halftime of a basketball game.

“If I could do that, I can certainly drive to Birmingham,” the 90-year-old said anesthesiologist said of her trek to attend Monday’s Homewood City Council meeting.

Most of the City Council – including her son Walter Jones – are completing their terms as elected leaders of the city. Monday was their final regular meeting for Homewood with a state-high 11 council members.

Jones, the council president, has been on the council for 25 years, spanning six terms. He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek before calling the meeting to order.

Moments earlier, Barry Smith accepted a report from Kellie Lee of the city’s

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