South Metro Advisory Roundtable with Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs, City of South Fulton

Carmalitha Gumbs

Mayor
City of South Fulton

Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs is a trailblazer, a leader with a deep commitment to service, equity, and community empowerment. On January 5, 2026, she was sworn in as the first woman to lead the City of South Fulton since its inception in 2017.

Prior to her December 2025 overwhelming election, with nearly 60 percent of the vote, she served eight years on the City Council representing District 2. In that time, she passionately fought for and delivered environmentally sustainable legislation, public safety, and open communication. Her work has focused on safeguarding senior citizens by providing equitable access to resources, launching innovative wellness programs, and delivering essential services, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to her advocacy for community and civic organizations, Gumbs has two decades of business leadership experience. In that time, she has built strategic business relationships in metro Atlanta and across the Southeast Region—everything from the healthcare field to empowering small business owners and promoting economic growth and development. Mayor Gumbs has also been a driving force behind pop-up dental clinics, salons, and farmers' markets, all aimed at uplifting vulnerable residents and improving their quality of life.

As a relentless advocate for women's rights in the city's ongoing growth, she is recognized for her collaborative spirit and steadfast dedication to advancing South Fulton's future. Upon her election, Mayor Gumbs’ priorities include rebuilding public trust, restoring the city's OpenGov financial transparency portal, and strengthening relationships within the community and City departments.

Committed to unity, she emphasizes that every resident's voice matters. Mayor Gumbs is putting a focus on departmental assessments, collaborative planning, and renewed efforts to promote economic development for the City. As she leads South Fulton into a new chapter, Mayor Gumbs is dedicated to healing, progress, and the historic success of the city she believes in deeply.

Gumbs has come a long way from her first job as a teen-aged potato grader in rural America, to owning and operating a privately held marketing firm in metro Atlanta. She has been named by Atlanta magazines as one of Atlanta’s 500 most influential leaders. The daughter of a Brooklyn police officer, she is the proud graduate of Norfolk State University in Virginia. She earned her MBA in management, and a Master of Arts Degree in health administration from Strayer University.

She worships at Renaissance Church of Christ and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Gumbs is the proud mother of a future medical doctor who recently graduated from Spelman College. She also is a pet lover and the proud “doggy mom” to several canines who round out her home life in South Fulton, Georgia.