Dr. Herbert Smitherman, Wayne State's School of Medicine, reminisced about his association with Maryann Mahaffey during a public memorial held Aug. 26 at the Detroit Opera House. Smitherman recalled working with Mahaffey on healthcare issues. "We met working on health care policies. If there was anything that negatively impacted Detroiters, no matter the political consequence, Mahaffey was always on the frontline." Smitherman said the former council president "fought for those without a voice." Mahaffey was always concerned about poverty, Smitherman said. "She always said to me we need to fight poverty and not people in poverty."