DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale willdedicate the Lou Walker Drive that leads to the front of the year-old hospital to the late DeKalb County Commissioner Lou Walker on Oct. 5.

Walker, who lobbied for more than 20 years for the South DeKalb hospital, died before it opened on July 18, 2005.

The hospital had previously announced that the drive way to the hospital's front name would be named for Walker.

The dedication ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. It is part of the hospital's first anniversary celebrations..

Walker was the Super District 7 Commissioner, when he died in August 2004 from injuries he received in a traffic accident.

He was present at the Oct. 23, 2003 pouring of the hospital's foundation.

DeKalb Medical Center also renamed its South DeKalb Fund — established by the DeKalb Medical Foundation for residents who want to contribute to the hospital — the Lou Walker DeKalb Medical at Hillandale Fund.

Walker, who was also a part time movie actor, was also a staunch advocate for the elderly and the DeKalb Board of Commissioners named the county's first state-of-the-art senior center, the Lou Walker Senior Center, in his honor.

DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale is at 2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway in Lithonia. For more information, call 404-501-8611.