Snuggled in the large population of the diverse and transient city of Atlanta are “Grady Babies.” Lorenzo Wise was born in 1945 at Grady Hospital. Growing up in the Old 4th Ward, he was one of 8 siblings that had neighbors including basketball great, Walt Frazier. He remembers going to the Atlanta Crackers baseball games right down the street and the rising fame of neighborhood minister, Martin Luther King. A high school athlete, he had teammates leave the city to take college scholarships, but Lorenzo opted to marry his high school sweet heart and begin his family.
An employee of Carrier Heating and Air (later AirCon), he bought his first home in Decatur during 1970. He lived there for many years raising his two daughters and transitioning careers to apartment maintenance and refurbishment. He moved to Decatur Christian Towers after his retirement in 2006. His daughters continue to live close by and is quick to mention he is also the proud grandfather of Gerald Everett, LA Rams tight end. Lorenzo has a friendly word for all in the lobby and comments that the beautiful lobby renovation in 2009 added rays of daylight and social space that he highly values. As he completed his 75th birthday, he still finds this location is his place to call home. While his activities have been thwarted during the pandemic, he looks forward to visiting a casino when we can look back on this crisis period.
