Trio leads community renovation of ‘Able’ Mable Thomas’ Vine City home

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Former State Rep. “Able” Mabel Thomas fist bumps a member of the community following a protest to rally against the new Georgia Power substation being built in Vine City on Thursday, June 5, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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(left to right) Randy Hazelton, Cliff Palmer and Michael Sterling pose for a photo in front of the home of Former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The trio helped to fund the renovation of the Vine City home which was in need of rehabilitation. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Former State Rep. “Able” Mabel Thomas and other Vine City residents gather to rally against the new Georgia Power substation being built in the neighborhood on Thursday, June 5, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Randy Hazelton checks out the newly renovated bathroom inside the home of former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas. The Vine City home is being rehabilitated with the help of Hazelton, Cliff Palmer and Michael Sterling who helped fund the project. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Cliff Palmer shows a photo of Former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas’ home being before rennovations on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The Vine City home is being rehabilitated with the help of Palmer, Randy Hazelton, and Michael Sterling who helped fund the project. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Construction workers make last minute touches on the fully renovated kitchen of “Able” Mable Thomas. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

htiw lliw esoht eht egarots spets ,derewop-ralos ,smoor ,moor gnicalper deledomer der pmar hcrop sulp gnikoolrevo tuo ylno ,wen wen doohrobhgien gnivil yrdnual ,nehctik ti emoh reh sah drah ylluf .tnorf tnorf ,ettenid tub dnarb eb dna na elbissecca a a toN

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Construction workers make last minute touches on the home of “Able” Mable Thomas. The home had not been renovated since the 1930s. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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A worker breaks down boxes near an old campaign sign of Former State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas in the front yard of her Vine City home on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The home is being rehabilitated with the help of Randy Hazelton, Cliff Palmer and Michael Sterling who helped fund the project. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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A construction worker makes last minute touches to the home of former state Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

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Credit: NATRICE MILLER

Former State Rep. “Able” Mabel Thomas takes photos with members of the community following a protest to rally against the new Georgia Power substation being built in Vine City on Thursday, June 5, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)