The celebration of life for former Pine Bluff City Council member Donald Hatchett was held Tuesday at St. John AME Church in Pine Bluff. Hatchett, who served as the Third Ward Alderman from 2016-2020, died on Aug. 10.
During Monday's council meeting, Mayor Shirley Washington declared, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, as "Donald Hatchett Remembrance Day." Reading a resolution in memory of Hatchett, Washington said Hatchet was one who strived to do better.
"He, the man of landscape obsession and repetitive conversations had a desire to make a difference in the community, will be missed," said Washington.
Hatchett was elected to his first term in 2016 defeating then-Council Member Glen Brown Sr. Hatchett had announced his intention to seek re-election in 2020, but Brown, who ran again in 2020 for his old seat, scored a narrow victory over Hatchett.
Hatchett's top priority while on the council was promoting "Better Government for a Better Pine Bluff." He did that by serving as chairman of Public Health & Welfare Committee, which included code enforcement, transit and the cemetery department. He was also a member of the Community Development and Traffic and Aviation committees.
Hatchett graduated from the University of Arkansas and later attended the University of Central Arkansas where he completed a three-year program in Community and Economic Development. He received extensive training and certifications in economic and community development programs of business attraction, retention and expansion from UCA Economic Development Institute and UALR's Institute for Economic Advancement. Hatchett was a graduate of Leadership Pine Bluff.
He retired from Entergy Arkansas after more than 30 years of working in the customer service and account management departments.
Hatchett was a member of the Pine Bluff Rotary Club. His former board and commission affiliations included the United Way of Jefferson County Board of Directors, Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Single Parent Scholarship, Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Commission, Pine Bluff Clean and Beautiful Commission and the Pine Bluff Boys and Girls Club.
Hatchett was recently recognized by former Mayor Carl Redus Jr., who acknowledged Hatchett during the renaming ceremony of the Aquatics Center on Friday, July 29th at the Aquatics Center facility, in honor of Redus.
Redus thanked Hatchett for his support for the name change, which was pushed by Hatchett and Council Member Ivan Whitfield.
"His strong business mind, wisdom and commitment to civic duty in this community will be long remembered and appreciated," said Washington. "The city of Pine Bluff extends our deepest sympathies to the family of Donald Hatchett, a respected member of this community and offers this resolution in the highest honor to the memory of a man who led an honorable life before his family, community and in the sight of God."