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‘Pathetic’: St. Pete Council admonishes colleague over post
Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. would not apologize for the social media post “because it ignited a conversation in the community.”
Simmering tensions boiled over at a St. Petersburg City Council meeting Thursday morning as members admonished a colleague for what they perceived as a public lie.
Gulfport’s Lincoln Cemetery, the primary burial ground for St. Petersburg’s Black population during segregation, was at the center of the dispute. Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. requested a committee discussion last week regarding the embattled graveyard’s future that ideally would have included officials from the neighboring city.
The new business item failed, as Councilmember Gina Driscoll previously requested a committee meeting on the subject. Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders noted that she and Mayor Ken Welch have also discussed plans for the cemetery, including annexation, with Gulfport stakeholders.
Givens, in a subsequent social media post, wrote that “none of my fellow council members thought this agenda item was worth supporting.” He called it a “sad day for Black history in St. Pete,” and Figgs-Sanders was the first to address what she called “intentionally incorrect” statements Thursday.
“As hard as I’ve worked in my community, as proud as I am of the Black history in the City of St. Petersburg, to intentionally be included in a lie will not work for me,” Figgs-Sanders said. “I’m going to call it out each and every time.”
She added that elected officials should hold themselves to a higher standard than constituents. “I’m for the people, not the posturing,” Figgs-Sanders said. “That’s not why I am here.”
Lincoln Cemetery opened in 1926 at 600 58th St. S. The interred include Civil War veterans and other local historical figures.
St. Petersburg relocated African American residents buried at Moffett Cemetery to Lincoln when officials condemned and built over the site in the late 1920s. Stakeholders have only identified about half of the 8,000 graves at the flood-prone Gulfport burial grounds.
Lincoln fell into disrepair over the years, and Cross and Anvil Human Services took control in 2023. Many descendants of those buried at the cemetery want St. Petersburg to annex the land.
Givens said Thursday that he had spoken with Gulfport Mayor Karen Love and Rev. Clarence Williams, a pastor at St. Petersburg’s Greater Mount Zion AME Church, who also leads Cross and Anvil, that morning.
“I’m happy to report things are moving in the right direction there,” Givens said. “So, politics, although it can get petty, we are moving in the right direction.”
Councilmember Mike Harting credited Figgs-Sanders for her courage. He said officials should remain “above the fray” and operate with decorum.
Driscoll, sitting next to Givens, then offered decidedly more pointed remarks. She agreed that council members “should be above certain things,” including “lies.”
“I said that if we could unofficially co-sponsor the item, I’m willing to do that,” Driscoll said. “Does that sound like someone who does not support this? Pathetic. It’s not a sad day for Black history in St. Pete.
“It’s a sad day for District 7 in St. Pete to be represented by someone who lies and makes things up to try and get attention.”
Councilmember Gina Driscoll (right) directly addressed Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. Screengrab.
Driscoll said she is still waiting for a discussion with the mayoral administration regarding their efforts. She prefers a “united approach” to honoring the cemetery.
Givens subsequently apologized to residents for the “circus.” Council Chair Copley Gerdes called his comment inappropriate and demanded the floor when Givens interjected.
Givens walked off the dais as Gerdes wished his daughter a happy birthday.
No apologies
After the meeting, Givens said he would not apologize for the social media post “because it ignited a conversation in the community.” A cemetery cleanup event is Oct. 25, and he hopes “those council members will show up, if they’re serious about helping,” without discussing the topic.
Givens believes criticizing a social media post in City Hall was counterproductive. However, he appreciated the timing, as he had just spoken with Love and Williams.
Givens said the council’s discussion on the Lincoln and Greenwood Cemeteries has languished on a committee docket for over a year and is set to take place in December. “If it takes me showing up nine months, 10 months in now to actually make some things happen, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
“We’re talking about the history of those cemeteries, but Lincoln – the future is in jeopardy,” Givens elaborated. “It’s unknown.”
He noted that Williams has reached out to officials from both cities for help maintaining Lincoln. Givens said St. Petersburg will not spend tax dollars on a cemetery in Gulfport. “The mayor has made that clear.”
“People are observing how our elected officials are not really living up to what they portray to be,” Givens added. “I’m embarrassed for our city.”
Over 4,000 graves at Lincoln Cemetery remain unmarked. Photo: Black Cemetery Network.
Ray Tampa
October 3, 2025at7:27 am
Councilmember Givens: “I am embarrassed for our city.” Well, join the crowd. There have been many, many moments that have caused us embarrassment. I must admit, most of our embarrassing moments have resulted from Mayor Welch’s behaviors. However, councilmembers voting in lockstep with the mayor, especially on the Tropicana Development Agreement, was not something to celebrate.
Hugh Hazeltine
October 2, 2025at11:04 pm
There is a website called findagrave.com. Genealogists use it to volunteer to identify graves by their longitude and latitude. Here is a paragraph from their website about Lincoln cemetery.
Although there are over 6,000 bodies known to have Lincoln Cemetery as their last resting, many of the earliest burial records were lost in a fire or the transitions between ownerships, or just poorly kept. Between 1926 and 1927, eighty-six “unknown individuals” were reinterred from now defunct Moffett Cemetery to Lincoln Cemetery. In 1958 approximately more 150 bodies were reinterred as the Moffett Cemetery was becoming a profitable orange grove. Three Confederate soldiers are known to be buried in the Lincoln Cemetery but only one has a marked grave with a deteriorating marker. Two of the three were originally buried at Moffett Cemetery. This cemetery is also the final resting place for the community’s African American leaders including educators, developers, and civil right activists.
Rose Smith-Hayes
October 2, 2025at6:46 pm
Councilman Givens said what he said and his comment got attention for the cemetery. At least they are now discussing the cemetery. I am sorry he had to do it that way but I get his point. .
Steven Sullivan
October 2, 2025at10:39 pm
They were already discussing the issue. He is an i.patient hardheaded who lied. Annexation 3 not to be taken lightly as the cemetery is located in another jurisdiction. This guy is too emotional
Debra Schoofs
October 3, 2025at6:38 am
Lincoln Cemetery Established 1926 in St Petersburg City Limits public records document, was Red Lined out of St Pete into Historically Documented Sundowner Town Gulfport with Signs Posted “Niggxrs Don’t Let the Sun Set on you in Gulfport”
Public Records document that Gulfport Lincoln Cemetery 2 Page Annex Petition is UNDATED and Legally Invalid
Gulfport Mayor KAREN met with me a Gulfport Constiuent 4/24/25 at City Hall and was handed for her Public Records the Undated Lincoln Cemetery Annex Petition. She took a page full of Notes during the mtg on a Yellow Legal Pad. YET she intentionally has refused to provide that Public Record. During Gulfport 9/3/25 & 9/16/25 Council Mtg KAREN Refused to Disclose to Council Members and Constituents she has the Undated Non Legal Lincoln Cemetery Petition Annex. Additionally Gulfport Zoned Lincoln Cemetery 8.82 Acres R-2 for RESIDENTIAL Development
Tom Everett
October 2, 2025at4:40 pm
Does Figgs-Sanders have nothing better to do than troll her colleagues social media post? What a joke!
Theresa Jones
October 5, 2025at2:26 pm
If you actually listened to the City Council meeting, you would have heard it stated that other people shared the post with Councilmember Figgs-Sanders. Frankly, Councilmember Figgs-Sanders has been too busy serving District 5 and the entire City to “troll” anyone’s Facebook posts.
Velva Heraty
October 2, 2025at4:08 pm
Those that voted Givens into office know and understand his deep feeling for his people. It’s not easy to stand alone. It would be nice to see some council support for him.