VIDEO: Natchez High graduate Jayda Myles awarded 2026 Hugh Green Scholarship

 Natchez High School senior Jayda Myles received the 2026 Hugh Green Scholarship, a $1,000 award presented by the Hugh Green Scholarship Foundation during a ceremony Thursday, July 2.

Eva Dunkley, who chairs the Foundation committee, presented certificates of recognition from U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson to both Jayda Myles and Hugh Green.

Natchez High senior Jayda Myles awarded $1,000 Hugh Green Scholarship

Natchez High grad Jayda Myles receives the 2026 Hugh Green Scholarship, a $1,000 award named for former NFL standout Hugh Green and recognizing student-athletes for academics and sports.

 By Roscoe Barnes III

The Natchez Democrat

Jayda Myles (center), the 2026 recipient of the $1,000 Hugh Green Scholarship, is pictured with Eva Dunkley and scholarship namesake Hugh Green. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. --- Natchez High School senior Jayda Myles received the 2026 Hugh Green Scholarship, a $1,000 award presented by the Hugh Green Scholarship Foundation during a ceremony Thursday, July 2.

 “I’m so thankful for this opportunity,” said Myles. “I am very thrilled and honored to have this scholarship.”
 
Jayda is the daughter of Galaundra Myles. She plans to attend Alcorn State University this fall and major in agriculture.
 
A standout athlete, Jayda was recognized for her achievements in softball. Although she also played basketball during high school, she said softball was her primary sport.
Throughout her athletic career, she earned numerous championship rings and medals.
 
The scholarship is named for Hugh Green, a former NFL standout and College Football Hall of Famer. He is a native of Natchez and 1976 graduate of North Natchez High School.
 
The foundation has been actively presenting the scholarship each year for more than 30 years, according to Eva Dunkley, who chairs the foundation committee.
 
She said it all originated as a vision of her late husband, George Dunkley III, who followed Green’s football career “from the beginning to the end.”
 
“After Hugh was drafted to the Miami Dolphins, my husband had Miami Dolphin Day, which was the day we had the parade to honor Hugh,” Eva said. “After Hugh finished pro ball, my husband decided he would like to have a Hugh Green Day. Thirty years later, it’s still going. We’re just so proud of what Hugh has done for the community. As long as we have a dollar in this fund, we will be giving a scholarship.”
 
Eva said it’s important to keep the scholarship going to help the children of the community.
 
The previous recipient of the award was Markeith Thompson, who attends the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Hugh Green Scholarship Foundation committee presents the 2026 $1,000 Hugh Green Scholarship to Natchez High senior Jayda Myles (third from left). Pictured from left (front row) are Galaundra Myles, Hugh Green, Jayda Myles, Laura Ann Jackson (seated), and Eva Dunkley. Back row from left: Josie Gilchrist, David Myles, and Phillip West. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Green was on hand for the recent scholarship presentation.

 
“Congratulations to you,” he said to Jayda. “I hope this helps you somewhere down the road.”
 
Green said his goal has always been to strengthen the scholarship program. He added that its continued success has been possible because of the support of people in Natchez and across Mississippi.
 
Eva also presented certificates of recognition from U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson to both Jayda and Green. The certificates read, “We are celebrating you because you did more and did it better and always exceed our expectations. Your hard work, dedication, and achievement will be cherished.”
 
The scholarship is awarded each year to students "who really need and deserve it," Eva said. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher, pastor, or coach, and write an essay explaining what the scholarship would mean to them. Applicants also must be active in high school athletics, she said.
 
In addition to Eva, the foundation’s committee members include Secretary Wilbur Johnson and Treasurer Laura Jackson, both of whom attended the scholarship presentation. Other attendees included Jayda’s uncle, David Myles, Phillip West, and Eva’s classmate, Josie Gilchrist.
 

Farewell to civil rights veteran Ed King

I’m pictured here with King, Mulholland, and MDOC Commissioner Pelicia Hall. (Click on image to enlarge.) 

We’ve lost another giant of the Civil Rights Movement. The Rev. Dr. Ed King died Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Jackson. I was honored to meet him in September 2019 when he visited the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, where I served as chaplain. We were hosting a special visit by Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and Loki during a celebration of Anne Moody’s birthday.

I'm featured here with King, Mulholland, and Rep. Angela Cockerham. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Remembering the Rev. Dr. Ed King: A Champion for Civil Rights

He died on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was 89.

Photo 1: Standing (from left): Professor Jim Rosenblatt, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, and MDOC Commissioner Pelicia Hall. Seated: the Rev. Dr. Ed King. (Click on image to enlarge.)

WOODVILLE, Miss. -- I was saddened to learn of the death of the Rev. Dr. Ed King. He died at the age of 89 on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi. A former professor and chaplain at Tougaloo College, he was a fierce warrior for freedom, justice, and civil rights. He was truly a trailblazer, as well as a mentor and friend to Anne Moody, author of Coming of Age in Mississippi.
 
I had the honor of interviewing him in December 2017 for my research on Anne Moody. In February 2018, I penned a blog post titled "Farewell to Anne Moody: Rev. Ed King's Reflection on Her Place in History," which you can read at Roscoe Reporting.
 
In September 2019, when Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and Loki visited the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, King was one of our guests. He and Mike O'Brien assisted me in preparing the text for Moody's Freedom Trail marker, which was dedicated in September 2025 at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville.
 
I was honored to know him and was forever changed by his commitment to civil rights. I was inspired by his courage and will always remember his compassion for others. May he rest in peace.

Photo 2: Standing (from left): Deputy Warden of Programs George Castro, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, and Warden Scott Middlebrooks. Seated: the Rev. Dr. Ed King. (Click on image to enlarge.)

From football to history: Former NFL cornerback Garry Lewis leads cultural efforts in southwest Mississippi

Former NFL cornerback Garry Lewis now leads Alcorn State’s Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning, helping communities preserve and share African American history.
 
By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat (7/1/2026)

Dr. Garry Lewis, former NFL cornerback and Alcorn State University alumnus, serves as executive director of the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning at Alcorn State University. Photo courtesy of Garry Lewis. (Click on image to enlarge.)

LORMAN, Miss. – As a young man, Dr. Garry Lewis spent four seasons as an NFL cornerback, defending against some of football's toughest receivers. Today, the seasoned educator faces a different challenge: helping Mississippi communities navigate complex conversations about race and culture while preserving and sharing African American history.
 
As executive director of the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning at Alcorn State University, Lewis works with community leaders, educators, historians, and cultural organizations to identify regional needs and support projects that preserve and share the area's rich history.
 
“I lead the institution’s efforts to preserve, interpret, and elevate the unique culture, history, and heritage of southwest Mississippi,” Lewis says. “My role blends strategic leadership, community partnership development, academic engagement, and cultural stewardship.”
Lewis began the position in May 2025. He says one of the most rewarding aspects of the role is meeting new people and sharing ideas to promote the region’s culture and community.
 
Education
 
Born and raised in New Orleans, Lewis graduated from Walter L. Cohen High School before attending Alcorn State University, where he lettered for the Braves. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in secondary education from Alcorn and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He and his wife, Cassandra, live in Vicksburg.
 
Over the past year, he has expanded educational programming by facilitating the showing of the documentary “Natchez” on Alcorn’s campus. “That was one of the biggest events that I enjoyed,” he says, adding he also valued taking students to The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson.
 
In March 2026, Lewis facilitated the donation of Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley's “Forks of the Road” exhibit and research materials to the Center. Lewis displayed the exhibit at the Claiborne County Welcome & Heritage Center in Port Gibson and, on Friday, March 27, he hosted a symposium honoring Boxley alongside educators and community leaders.
 
Future projects

Lewis plans to host heritage events across multiple counties and develop the Welcome Center in Port Gibson into a tour-ready museum. He also hopes to organize student visits to the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and partner with Rev’s Country Tours in Natchez.
 
As Lewis advances these initiatives, he draws on lessons from his professional football career. “It’s important to stay focused, calm, and organized in every situation,” he says. “I also pay close attention to detail in order to succeed in everything I do.”
 

NFL Career

Lewis was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft as a cornerback.

Garry Lewis (#21), cornerback for the Los Angeles Raiders, points to an offensive player while signaling to his teammates that he'll take him. Photo courtesy of Garry Lewis. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Over four seasons (1990-1993), he played for the Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He later continued his career in Canada, playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1994 to 1996.

Lewis says being drafted was a great accomplishment and a big relief because his hard work and sacrifice had finally paid off. “I knew the NFL would give me a head start in life,” he says.
 
Interestingly, Lewis did not celebrate the accomplishment in the way that some might expect. “I didn’t celebrate after making it in the NFL because I was still hungry and had a lot more to prove -- to myself and to those who doubted me making it in the NFL. I bought the cheapest car, a Nissan Maxima. I loved that car because it represented everything about me -- a humble guy from uptown New Orleans who doesn’t take anything for granted.”
 
As Lewis reflects on his football career, he says there is one game that stands out in his memory: “The second pre-season game my rookie year stands out because the Raiders had no clue I was going to ball out like I did. Both the starting cornerback and backup got hurt in that game, and I had to play earlier than expected because I was the next man up. Everything the quarterback threw my way, I knocked down.”
 
After football
 
After football, Lewis transitioned into education. He spent a year teaching and coaching at Vicksburg High School before serving as an assistant professor at Alcorn State University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He was later promoted to associate professor. In 2023, Lewis was inducted into Alcorn State University's Sports Hall of Fame as part of the A-Club Hall of Fame Class.
 
In April 2026, Lewis’ cousin, former Pittsburgh Steelers player Ryan Clark, shared a viral Instagram post praising Lewis. Clark said he admired his cousin and wanted to be just like him growing up. He recalled that Lewis spent quality time with him and encouraged him.
 
Clark attended Louisiana State University and went on to a successful NFL career, including a Super Bowl XLIII victory.
 
Those who know Lewis say success never changed him. He remains the same person many knew long before his NFL career.
 
Today, Lewis says the same discipline that fueled his NFL career continues to guide his efforts to preserve and elevate the history and culture of southwest Mississippi.

Longwood's historic quarters to tell story of enslaved families

New interpretive room to feature period furnishings and artifacts

by Mississippi Monitor | Jun 26, 2026 | Capital/River
By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Douglas Lanfear, a docent at Longwood, stands in front of the historic quarters where enslaved families once lived. A first-floor room in the building will be used to interpret and present the history of those families.

NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Pilgrimage Garden Club is transforming a first-floor room in the historic quarters at Longwood, where enslaved people once lived, into an interpretive space exploring the lives of enslaved families. The room is being refurbished with period furniture and artifacts to reflect its 19th-century setting.
 
“We are presenting a room that we think would have been appropriate at that time,” said Dr. Terrel Williams, president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club. He said the ultimate goal is to recognize the enslaved families who lived and worked on the Longwood property by bringing their history to life in this space.
 
“We’re presenting this exhibit so we can have a better discussion and understand the fact that there were enslaved people living at Longwood who helped build this great monument and played an important role in the lives of the Nutt family,” Williams said.
 
The exhibit will open to the public on Saturday, September 26, when the Pilgrimage Garden Club holds its symposium on cotton and the dependency (historic quarters) at Longwood. The symposium will be held at the Carriage House.
 
Little is known about the enslaved families who lived on the property. Club members hope the new interpretive space will help broaden public understanding of the lives of the enslaved people whose labor was central to the Longwood estate.
 
Mimi Miller, executive director emerita of Historic Natchez Foundation, described the quarters as a two-story brick building with gable roof and full-width, double-tiered gallery. She said it is one of the largest known structures in the Natchez District used to house enslaved people.
 
The brick structure, which dates to about 1830 or earlier, is located about 100 feet northwest of the Longwood mansion. It was likely enhanced or expanded between 1860 and 1861, according to the National Park Service.
 
The quarters are one of several historic outbuildings on the property. The others include a frame carriage house, a dilapidated one-story frame building north of the quarters and a deteriorated frame kitchen building.
 
Longwood is located at 140 Lower Woodville Road. It is a well-known historic site in Natchez that is recognized as the largest octagonal home in the United States. It was owned by Haller Nutt, a Unionist, and his wife, Julia. Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan designed the building to have 32 rooms.
 
Longwood sits on 86 acres of property purchased by Haller Nutt in 1850.
 
Haller Nutt was one of the wealthiest cotton planters in the Antebellum South. Over his lifetime, according to Williams and historian D. Clayton James, he owned 800 enslaved people and 42,947 acres on 21 plantations stretching from Adams County, Mississippi, to Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
 

Longwood’s construction began in 1860. During this time, Haller Nutt and his family lived in the quarters temporarily while Longwood was under construction, sharing the building with enslaved families until the basement level of the mansion was completed, according to Williams.
 
When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, it halted construction. The northern artisans and craftsmen dropped their tools and returned to the North. They left the upper floors of the house an empty shell, according to some reports. Many enslaved people remained on the property and continued labor on the construction, according to the National Park Service.
 
Only the outside of the building and nine rooms in the basement area were completed. The Nutt family moved into the completed area on the basement level of the mansion in 1862.
 
On June 15, 1864, Haller Nutt died of pneumonia at the age of 48. His family continued living in the house even though its construction was never finished.
 
“It never became what it was supposed to become,” said Miller.
 
In 1866, thousands of newly freed African Americans visited Longwood for a Fourth of July celebration and picnic.
 

Five Natchez leaders honored with Keys to the City

Mayor Dan Gibson presents awards during ‘Kickback at NAPAC’ program

by Mississippi Monitor | Jun 25, 2026 | Capital/River

By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Recipients of the Keys to the City stand with Mayor Dan Gibson during the “Kickback at NAPAC” program at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture on June 16. From left are the Rev. Melvin White, Laura Ann Jackson, Angela Reynolds, Kristina Carter, Norma West, and Mayor Dan Gibson. 

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson recently honored five community leaders on behalf of the City of Natchez in recognition of their exceptional leadership and service to the Natchez community. He presented Keys to the City to the Rev. Melvin White, Norma West, Laura Ann Jackson, Kristina Carter, and Angela Reynolds.
 
Gibson made the presentations on Tuesday, June 16, at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. It was part of the “Kickback at NAPAC” program, an event the city has held for the past five years as part of the annual Juneteenth celebrations.
 
“When I look around in our community and I see those bright stars that are planted right here in our midst, I never cease to be amazed,” said Gibson. He noted the program celebrates individuals who have earned special recognition for their contributions.
 
“Positivity is what we’re celebrating tonight, because it’s the positivity that actually makes the difference,” Gibson said. “If it weren’t for the heroes in our midst who made things happen, where would we be?”
 
The honorees were recognized for wide-ranging contributions to the Natchez community.
 
Gibson said White, pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, has touched countless lives. “His influence extends beyond the church through his service as first vice president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention and moderator of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Association, where he has provided guidance and encouragement to churches and ministers throughout the region, raising thousands of dollars for important needs and truly serving God’s people,” he said.
 
“His life stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and selfless service,” Gibson added. “Through his preaching and teaching, generations have been inspired to walk in faith and serve their communities.”
 
West, a retired nurse, has extended her service well beyond the walls of the healthcare field, Gibson said.
 
In addition to being a devoted member of Zion Chapel AME Church, she is a lifetime member of the Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of Mississippi and has provided leadership within the Downtown Natchez Alliance. Gibson said her life and work stand as a shining example of what it means to invest in one's community and leave a lasting legacy of compassion and service.
 
Jackson, said Gibson, “has exemplified service, dedication, and community pride throughout her life. Her commitment to public service and civic leadership has left a lasting mark on the Miss-Lou region and brought honor to the City of Natchez.”
 
For many years, Jackson has served as chair of the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade. “Beyond her professional achievements, Jackson has devoted countless hours to preserving the culture and traditions of our region,” Gibson said. “As chairperson of the Miss-Lou 30th of May Memorial Day Parade Committee, she has played a vital role in honoring our shared history and strengthening community pride for future generations.”
 
Carter was recognized for her hard work and educational excellence in the Natchez-Adams School District.
 
“Through her volunteerism, leadership, and unwavering support of students and educators, she has become a trusted voice for families and a powerful force for positive change throughout our community,” Gibson said.
 
Gibson said Reynolds’ commitment to education, leadership, and community service has made a profound impact on generations of young people.
 
“Reynolds’ life's work stands as a testament to the values of service, integrity, perseverance, and commitment that define our city,” he said. “Through her vision and unwavering dedication, she has strengthened our schools, empowered countless students, and helped shape a brighter future for generations to come.”
 
The annual “Kickback at NAPAC” program recognizes individuals whose leadership and service have helped strengthen the Natchez community.