Fort Wayne community remembers Charles Redd's contributions

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Many Fort Wayne community members came to Charles Redd's viewing Friday to pay their respects to him for his contributions to the community.

Charles Redd is a well-known former city councilman and local civil rights leader. Redd has served the Fort Wayne community through the local NAACP, Fort Wayne Urban League, Indiana Democrat African American Caucus and several other organizations.

"Not only did I look up to him, but I was pleased he was such a strong leader in our community," said Fort Wayne councilman Geoff Paddock.

Redd was also known for spearheading the desegregation of Fort Wayne Community Schools. Dr. Dee McKinley used to work with Redd and said when she arrived in Fort Wayne, there was a boycott against FWCS. There were freedom schools set up at variety of churches, McKinley said.

"If we're to make this country better, we can take our ideas from how Charles became a grass root leader and took that leadership to pave the way for all of us to do what it is that we do," said McKinley.

The funeral will be Saturday at noon the Turner Chapel AME Church. There will be a viewing in Saturday morning at 10.

The public is welcome to attend.