Trussville author, historian dies

A leader of historical preservation in Trussville recently died.

Claude Earl Massey died Tuesday, Aug. 2. He was 88. His celebration of life was held Aug. 6 at Deerfoot Baptist Church in Trussville.

Born June 24, 1934, Massey worked for the city of Birmingham Streets and Sanitation department for more than 32 years. He was a supervisor. He served on the Trussville Historical Board from its creation in 1983 until 2007, when his daughter, Sandra Turner, replaced him. He served as an adviser to the board from 2007 until 2020.

“Trussville Through the Years,” a historical book about Trussville researched and written by Massey and his wife, Carol, was printed in the 1980s. It includes topics such as Trussville’s formative years, the Civil War era, Reconstruction, the Cahaba Project and yearly notes of interest.

The Trussville City Council in 2006 approved a proclamation in appreciation of Massey, stating in part that his “commitment to the preservation of our history benefits our community and will be a lasting memorial for use by succeeding generations.”

For more on Massey’s legacy, visit cahabasun.com.