City Council Votes To Save Eric Boney & Takes No Action Against Mt. Carmel Church

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (THN News) - The Hattiesburg City Council met Tuesday, June 17, 2025 to vote on the things they discussed on Monday, June 16, 2025, including two important decisions that directly affected the African American community, which has the largest population in the city.

The council came together and voted unanimously on both Mt. Carmel Church and Eric Boney, in a 5-0 decision, after the community came together showed their support. "I'm happy there was a unanimous 5-0 vote to table Mt. Carmel situation and to extend our contract with Medical Analysis for our City Employee Clinic!" said City of Hattiesburg Councilman Nick Brown.

Councilman Brown, who represents the largest population of African Americans in Hattiesburg, was excited about the unity the council showed after listening to the citizens at Monday's council meeting.

Brown added, "This shows that we can come together, black, white, democrats and republicans to make collective decisions for the betterment of our community and citizens."

Eric Boney won the Ward 2 City Council seat in this year's municipal election. However, city officials said there was a conflict of interest as his wife is the manger of the City of Hattiesburg Employee Clinic, serving as the city's nurse practitioner which meant Eric or his wife needed to step down from their position.

Removing Eric from office meant throwing away 100's of citizen's votes, something Mayor Toby Barker wasn't prepared to do.

Instead, Mayor Barker requested the City Council approve a 12 year extension before Councilman Elect Eric Boney takes office to avoid any future conflict of interest. Eric's wife technically doesn't work for the City of Hattiesburg, but for Medical Analysis, a private contractor who the city outsources it's medial services to. The city council approved the extension by voting 5-0.

Several community stake holders and leaders publicly showed their support for longtime Civil Rights Leader Reverend Kenneth Fairly and The Mt. Carmel Church at Monday's council meeting, strongly pushing back from Urban Planning & Development Director Wiley Quinn's request that The City of Hattiesburg declare the church a public nuisance and tear it down as a result of the damages the church has received from past tornados and storms.

Leaders included the Reverend Reggie Woullard, Pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church who also serves on Forrest General Hospital Board of Directors, his brother, Forrest County Board of Supervisors Vice President Rod Woullard, former Hattiesburg High School Football Head Coach Pastor Clemon Ector who pastors the New Seasons Baptist Church, Pastor Robert Johnson of The Real Life Church, & others community members who all spoke on how important Mt. Carmel has impacted their lives and what the church means to the community.

Councilman Brown also spoke out against tearing down Mt. Carmel Church and pushed back against Director Wiley in Monday's meeting. After Tuesday's 5-0 vote not to take any action against Mt. Carmel, Councilman Brown was grateful and hopeful.

"I'm hopeful that as a city we do all we can legally to help Mt. Carmel ministries in restoring their structure. This organization has been a pillar in our community for decades and what we can't do is turn our backs on them."

Pastor Fairly spoke directly to Mayor Barker and members of the City Council saying it's time we come together and put aside our political differences. "We are one Hattiesburg. All of us are Hattiesburg. It's time we come together."

Obviously, the council agreed. The council put off making any decision in regards to Mt. Carmel Church for 90 days, giving the church time to start implementing their own plans of improvements to their property.