2021-2022 GRAND MARSHAL
Freddie Demetrius Stokes, Esq.
Freddie Demetrius Stokes is the Chief Executive Officer of The Historic Avenue Foundation, a local nonprofit organization committed to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps in The Avenue Community by focusing on holistic community revitalization. Inspired by the Purpose Built Communities model, they are making investments in mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education, and community health and wellness. Freddie is also honored to serve as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Mobile. He was first appointed by Mayor Sandy Stimpson as a Special Judge in June of 2019, and he was subsequently appointed by The Mobile City Council, with a unanimous vote, to serve as Adjunct Judge in March 2021. Freddie has an impressive and diverse legal career. He has served as a Criminal Defense Attorney with The Carter Law Firm; an Assistant City Attorney and Prosecutor for the City of Prichard; a Corporate Litigation Defense Attorney with Starnes, Davis, Florie, LLP; and an Assistant District Attorney with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office.
Freddie was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and he is an extremely proud product of the Happy Hill Community. He is a 2005 graduate of C. F. Vigor High School, in Prichard, Alabama, serving as both Junior and Senior Class President of the Student Government Association. Freddie is a 2009 graduate of Alabama A&M University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, the highest academic honor, with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. He had the honor of serving as the 2008-2009 President of the Student Government Association at Alabama A&M University.
He received his Certification in International Relations from Howard University in Washington D.C., Class of 2008, through the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program. Freddie went on to graduate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2012. At Samford University, he achieved the Scholar of Merit for Business Bankruptcy, was a member of the Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Hull Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International. He was also an Executive Board Member of Cumberland’s prestigious and award-winning Trial Advocacy Board. After graduating from Law School, he decided to join Teach for America, a national program that places high-achieving college graduates and professionals in low income and rural communities to teach for a minimum of two years. He taught 7th Grade Social Studies. Freddie used this as an opportunity to not only provide excellent education, but to also provide hope, mentorship, and life-changing opportunities for students facing the challenges of poverty.
Freddie is currently a member of the Paul W. Brock American Inn of Court and the President-Elect of the Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for Teach for America-Alabama’s Alumni Board, Men of America Nurturing and Ushering Progress, Incorporated, and N.E.S.T. of Mobile. Freddie is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He also holds the distinguished honor of being the 2005 King of The Prichard Mardi Gras Association and the 2011 King Elexis, I, of the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. Freddie’s legal career and commitment to public service is motivated by Micah 6:8, which reads, “He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Freddie Demetrius Stokes is the Chief Executive Officer of The Historic Avenue Foundation, a local nonprofit organization committed to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps in The Avenue Community by focusing on holistic community revitalization. Inspired by the Purpose Built Communities model, they are making investments in mixed-income housing, cradle-to-college education, and community health and wellness. Freddie is also honored to serve as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Mobile. He was first appointed by Mayor Sandy Stimpson as a Special Judge in June of 2019, and he was subsequently appointed by The Mobile City Council, with a unanimous vote, to serve as Adjunct Judge in March 2021. Freddie has an impressive and diverse legal career. He has served as a Criminal Defense Attorney with The Carter Law Firm; an Assistant City Attorney and Prosecutor for the City of Prichard; a Corporate Litigation Defense Attorney with Starnes, Davis, Florie, LLP; and an Assistant District Attorney with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office.
Freddie was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and he is an extremely proud product of the Happy Hill Community. He is a 2005 graduate of C. F. Vigor High School, in Prichard, Alabama, serving as both Junior and Senior Class President of the Student Government Association. Freddie is a 2009 graduate of Alabama A&M University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, the highest academic honor, with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. He had the honor of serving as the 2008-2009 President of the Student Government Association at Alabama A&M University.
He received his Certification in International Relations from Howard University in Washington D.C., Class of 2008, through the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program. Freddie went on to graduate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2012. At Samford University, he achieved the Scholar of Merit for Business Bankruptcy, was a member of the Black Law Students Association, and a member of the Hull Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International. He was also an Executive Board Member of Cumberland’s prestigious and award-winning Trial Advocacy Board. After graduating from Law School, he decided to join Teach for America, a national program that places high-achieving college graduates and professionals in low income and rural communities to teach for a minimum of two years. He taught 7th Grade Social Studies. Freddie used this as an opportunity to not only provide excellent education, but to also provide hope, mentorship, and life-changing opportunities for students facing the challenges of poverty.
Freddie is currently a member of the Paul W. Brock American Inn of Court and the President-Elect of the Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for Teach for America-Alabama’s Alumni Board, Men of America Nurturing and Ushering Progress, Incorporated, and N.E.S.T. of Mobile. Freddie is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He also holds the distinguished honor of being the 2005 King of The Prichard Mardi Gras Association and the 2011 King Elexis, I, of the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. Freddie’s legal career and commitment to public service is motivated by Micah 6:8, which reads, “He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
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