KANNAPOLIS — The city has finally approved renaming East C Street after Milton L. Taylor, the late educator who spent his career in the city.

The motion was made several months ago by Mayor Pro Tem Doug Wilson, but was tabled at the last meeting in order to have communications with Taylor’s daughter, Michelle.

Michelle asked the council to add her father’s middle initial to the street name, since “he was always known as Milton L. Taylor,” she said after Tuesday’s meeting.

“I think it’s entirely appropriate to name the street that passes in front of the school after a man who made such contributions to our education system,” said Wilson at the time he made the original motion. Wilson chose C Street because it is the home of George Washington Carver Elementary School, and Taylor spent his career at the former George Washington Carver School before it became Kannapolis Middle School.

Wilson immediately agreed to add Taylor’s initial to the motion.

A group of people were in attendance at the meeting on another issue and had no idea the public hearing and motion would be heard, and one member of that group was Nettie Haney, who served as Taylor’s secretary for 27 years.

“I had no idea this was on the agenda tonight, but when it came up, I just had to speak,” she said.

She told the council that she knew the students who had been under Taylor’s tutelage would support such a motion, and that “I’m sure if the street is named after him it would be a great asset.”

A young man named Zach, who described himself as a representative of the school system, said those in the system would be pleased “to know our city is honoring Mr. Taylor this way.”

The city had already sent notification to residents whose address would be affected, and a notice of the pubic hearing, but were unable to start the hearing at the last meeting before the issue was tabled.

The public hearing was therefore held Tuesday night, with two speakers, before council members unanimously voted to change the street name to Milton L. Taylor Street.

Michelle Taylor said initially she was fearful someone may object when she saw the large crowd at the meeting, not realizing many were there for other reasons. When the vote was taken, “I was just so very happy,” she said. She was heading to her car and said as soon as she got “the car started and the heater on,” she would be on the phone to tell family members.

Taylor joined the Kannapolis City School system in 1958, and served as a public educator for over 30 years. He started as a seventh grade teacher and coach at George Washington Carver School, where he was instrumental in leading the school to three district championships. Taylor was promoted in 1965 to principal of the school, now Kannapolis Middle School, where he spent the remainder of his career.

“He loved the job and loved the students,” said Michelle. “He would be so pleased to be honored this way.”