ATLANTA -- Atlanta City Councilman Ivory Lee Young, Jr. is reported to be hospitalized at a local hospital in grave condition.
According to a source close to his family, Young has been hospitalized since Tuesday. His family is asking for prayers at this time.
Earlier this week, the District 3 staff reported that Young had been hospitalized, however, at the time, they did not go into details regarding his condition. A statement released at that point said, "The family of Council Member Ivory Lee Young, Jr. thanks you for all of the well-wishes and continued prayers. As he continues his healing process, they are asking for privacy at this time."
11Alive spoke to Rev. Gerald Durley Saturday afternoon about Young.
"As a family man, he is impeccable," he said.
Durlery has been friends and colleagues and even married Young and his wife Shalise.
"When you talk about Ivory Young, you have to look at the intensity and integrity of the man. He started a long time ago standing up for people."
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On Sept. 4, Young shared a post on his Facebook page, thanking a doctor who helped him with his cancer diagnosis years ago.
"He's always been the rock," Durley said. "When they were told he had cancer and had to go through the stem cell, he was still a rock for all of them."
"When you talk about Ivory Young, you have to look at the intensity and integrity of the man. He started a long time ago standing up for people," Rev. Durley said.
Young is currently serving his fourth term on the city council. He is a member of the City Utilities and Community Development/Human Services committees as well as the Committee on Council.
During the Reed Administration, Young helped to shepherd the Westside Revive program which resulted in the active redevelopment of the Martin Luther King Drive Corridor and the acquisition of more than $65 million for the completion of the Historic Westside Village project that served as a catalyst for continued investments.
"He was not only concerned with his particular district but the entire city of Atlanta," Rev. Durley said.
Young earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Hampton University. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and former Vice-President of the organization's Atlanta Chapter. He lives in Vine City with his wife, their children and grandchildren.
"He never tried to be the great person who's name was in lights," Rev. Durley said. "He was always behind the scenes working building bridges and collaborating, that's a real testimony for someone that I've known for a long time and love."
11Alive did reach out to the city council spokesperson for more details, but we were told at the family's request, the council wouldn't comment.
