A.J. Rivers, a longtime Cordele leader recognized for his dedication to public service, passed away on May 26, 2025. He was 99 years old. His nearly century-long life was marked by military service, civic leadership, and a deep commitment to community betterment.
Born on Sept. 18, 1925, Rivers served in World War II from 1943 to 1946. His return home marked the beginning of a lifetime of advocacy and progress. In 1972, he became the first African American elected to a citywide office in Cordele, serving as city commissioner until 2015. He held the position of vice-chairman for many of those years.
Rivers is survived by his wife, Vera Mae Stripling Rivers; four children—Gwen, Greg, Glenda, and Fain; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Described as a lifelong learner, Rivers graduated from Holsey Cobb Institute High School in 1947. He continued his education at the Life Underwriters Training Council Insurance in 1971 and earned a degree in Life Insurance Management from Tennessee State University in 1976. He devoted six decades to the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, including 35 years in management and 25 years in the agency. In 1983, he was certified as an insurance course instructor by the State Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
Rivers was also a lifetime member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and served as a Scout Master in the early 1950s. He chaired the Westside division of the American Cancer Society for three years and led the Americus Red Cross for four years. For 17 years, he served as president of the Gillespie Development and Daycare Center.
He supported programs including The Concerned Citizens that Care, the Bright Futures initiative for children, and the Cordele Youth Summer Institute. He was affiliated with the American Legion, the NAACP, and the Cordele Community Advancement Council. For 35 years, he served on the executive committee of the Cordele-Crisp County Chamber of Commerce, and he contributed to the Cordele-Crisp Industrial Development Council and the River Valley Regional Commission.
Rivers was also a longtime member and two-year chairman of the Southwest United Empowerment Zone board. He mentored students at Blackshear Trail Elementary and held leadership roles with Big Brother/Big Sister of South Georgia, the GMA Board of Directors, and the West Central Georgia Community Action Council.
Among his many awards were the 1979 Outstanding Citizens award from the Peaceful Riders Club, the 1989–90 Humanitarian Achievement award, and the 1994 8th District Community award from the Georgia Municipal Association. In 2020, he received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce.
Rivers’ legacy as a humanitarian and civic leader remains deeply rooted in the Cordele community.
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