NASHVILLE – A vibrant artwork celebrating the pioneering legacy of Elizabeth Duff was unveiled at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central last Thursday. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, WeGo CEO Steve Bland, Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority Board members, Duff family members, and friends joined in the event.
The Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central is named for the first female and first African American female bus operator in Nashville, hired by the Nashville MTA in April 1974. The art also pays tribute to Music City’s rich heritage and the diverse community of transit riders.
The 1,400-square-foot mural was created by members of the group Creative Girls Rock with a mission to educate and empower young girls and women to utilize their creative talents.
“The work of Creative Girls Rock shows their immense talents while honoring the legacy of Elizabeth Duff, who used her talents to become the city’s first female and first African American female bus driver. I am excited for millions of riders each year to see the inspiration with this vibrant display,” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said.
“This mural is especially important since it honors a groundbreaking Nashville bus operator. Our facilities reflect who we are as an organization and our commitment to the community,” WeGo CEO Steve Bland said.
“It’s wonderful to have such bright colors and such a positive message at our facility. Creative Girls Rock did a great job with this artwork. It’s a fitting tribute to a bus operator who exhibited such courage and tenacity as a trailblazer in Nashville,” Nashville MTA Chair Gail Carr Williams said.
There are now three generations of MTA and WeGo bus operators in the Duff family: Elizabeth, hired in 1974; her son Seneca, hired in 2005; and her grandson Emmanuel Smith, hired in January of 2024.
The official naming of the transit center was held in November of 2023. The Metro Nashville City Council approved an ordinance in July 2022 to make the change. All Metro Council members co-sponsored the bill, an indication of the level of support for the ordinance.
Duff died on Feb. 13, 2021, at the age of 72.
