Atlanta Historian Phyllis Lawhorn Dies in Collier Heights House Fire

“Collier Heights is going to miss you,” neighbor Jennifer Walton said, remembering the woman who helped shape the community.

Phyllis Lawhorn, a 99-year-old educator, historian, and author, died Tuesday morning in a house fire in Atlanta’s Collier Heights neighborhood, Atlanta News First reported.

The fire was intense enough to cause the second floor of Lawhorn’s home to collapse, according to fire officials. Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the blaze.

Beloved 99-year-old Atlanta author, former educator dies in Collier Heights house fire

Lawhorn was more than a resident; she was a cornerstone of a neighborhood with deep historical significance. She built her home in Collier Heights in 1963, making her one of the area’s original homeowners. The neighborhood, which was built by and for African Americans following World War II, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, a fellow Collier Heights resident, described the loss as “heartbreaking” for both Lawhorn’s family and the local community. He noted that Lawhorn served as “the glue that kept our little corner of Atlanta connected.”

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Dickens recalled frequently passing her home while walking his dog. He also noted that Lawhorn took great pride in seeing members of her own neighborhood rise to leadership positions, including himself and Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Lawhorn’s professional life was defined by a commitment to education and the integration of Atlanta’s public schools. In 1968, she became one of the first African American teachers selected to teach at North Fulton High School in Buckhead, a move following a U.S. Supreme Court decision to integrate Black and white faculty.

House fire kills 99-year-old Collier Heights icon, former Clark Atlanta University Professor

Her teaching career spanned several decades and institutions. She taught English and literature for 30 years across schools in Columbia, South Carolina, and Atlanta, including Archer High and Douglass High. She also spent 27 years teaching at Clark Atlanta University.

“Professor Lawhorn was dependable, principled, and a true beacon of excellence,” said Dr. Christopher Bass, interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Clark Atlanta University. “Although she retired in 2013, her influence remains deeply woven into the academic fabric of Clark Atlanta University.”

In August 2025, the City of Atlanta recognized her lifelong contributions with an official proclamation presented by Councilmember Michael Julian Bond.

In her later years, Lawhorn turned her focus toward documenting the very community she helped build. While in her 90s, she authored a book titled “Atlanta’s Collier Heights: Bending with the Wind.”

The title carries a poignant resonance for her neighbors. Jennifer Walton remarked, “The wind is blowing now, Phyllis, and that’s part of the title of your book. We thank you for everything that you’ve done for this community, and you will never be forgotten.”

99‑year‑old Atlanta matriarch dies in house fire in Atlanta’s Collier Heights

As the community processes the tragedy, Mayor Dickens announced that Atlanta Fire Rescue will launch a winter fire safety blitz in the neighborhood. This initiative will include checking on senior residents and providing guidance on the use of smoke alarms and space heaters.

“Ms. Lawhorn spent a lifetime looking out for this community,” Dickens said, “and we owe it to her memory to continue looking out for one another.”