Legacy Projects to Honor Late Mayor Karen K. Alexander
Salisbury, N.C (Thursday, March 5, 2026) – The City of Salisbury has unveiled the "Forever for All" Karen K. Alexander Legacy projects, honoring the late Mayor’s dedication to community on what would have been her birthday, March 4, 2026.
The projects were announced during a program at the Salisbury Depot, purchased by the City under Mayor Alexander’s leadership. During the program she was posthumously awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor.
The Forever for All Legacy projects will feature a large-scale mural facing City Hall by NC artist Max Dowdle, a bronze plaque, and a memorial garden within McCurdy Park at the Salisbury Depot. Designed in coordination with the Depot’s restoration, the garden will offer a peaceful space for reflection and gathering in the heart of the community Mayor Alexander served.
Mayor Tamara Sheffield said “Mayor Alexander’s legacy endures in the projects she championed, the partnerships she fostered, and the spirit of unity and dedication she inspired in the community she loved. Her life’s work stands as a lasting testament to her belief that community is built not just through structures and policies, but through genuine care, shared purpose, and steadfast service”.
Alexander was appointed to the City Council in 2013, elected to Council in 2015 and went on to serve multiple terms as mayor, including Salisbury’s first direct mayoral election in 2021. She was reelected in 2023 and served until her passing in December 2024.
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The City of Salisbury is located in the heart of the Piedmont region of North Carolina, midway between Charlotte and Greensboro. Salisbury is the county seat of Rowan County, and provides a full range of municipal services, including law enforcement, fire service protection, zoning and code enforcement and water and sewer systems. For more information regarding the City of Salisbury and its services and departments, please visit us on the web at www.salisburync.gov. To receive updates regarding local initiatives, meetings, programs and events, please follow us on X at @CitySalisburyNC and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CitySalisburyNC.