Work has begun to memorialize a prominent Brookhaven physicianwho was known not only for his medical expertise but also for hisphilanthropy.

On Monday, crews prepared the framing and on Tuesday beganlaying the foundation for the memorial to Dr. Albert L. Lott on atriangular island at the intersection of First, Ole Brook andGullidge streets. The site is near where Lott practiced medicinefor many decades.

Lott was also well-known for his community service. He was aformer member of the Brookhaven School District Board of Trusteesand monetarily aided at least 10 students, helping them receiveundergraduate degrees from Alcorn State University.

The Dr. A.L. Lott Memorial Monument Committee began collectingfunding for the three-sided monument after receiving city approvalfor the location in June 2006, said Moses Bell, a member of thecommittee.

Committee members Kenneth Wilbert, Dexter Holloway, Bell,Jeanette Newton, Gloria Butler, Dorothy Watkins, Harold Sanders,Byron Seymore, Charlie Brown and the Rev. Robert McCall have notapproved a final design for the monument itself after rejecting atwo-sided proposal this week. Wilbert said there was amisunderstanding about the design and it was in the process ofbeing redrafted.

The monument will include a sketch drawing of Lott and plansinclude a wrought-iron fence to surround the memorial.

“We had planed to include a lighted fountain, but decided notto,” Wilbert said. “It would be hard to keep trash from getting init all the time.”

The committee hopes to complete the memorial within the next twomonths. Howeve, funds are still short.

Committee members began collecting contributions for thememorial following its approval and donations continue to tricklein, but the foundation is still short of funding for the monumentitself, Bell said.

Contributions for the project may be made to the Dr. A.L. LottMemorial Monument Fund, Inc. at Trustmark Bank.