Town of Centreville, Miss., honors Anne Moody on her birthday

Ceremony includes proclamation for Anne Moody Day along with resolution for Anne Moody Street

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

Civil rights pioneer Anne Moody received a special gift for her birthday on Sept. 15, 2017, in her hometown of Centreville, Miss.

During a special Anne Moody Day Celebration, the town of Centreville presented a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and a resolution for renaming Fort Street, Anne Moody Street.

About 70 people turned out for the ceremony which was organized by the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, Woodville, Miss., and the Centreville Board of Aldermen.

Moody, who died at the age of 74 in 2015, was the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. She was known for her work as a civil rights activist who participated in historic peaceful demonstrations. She made many sacrifices in her fight for freedom and justice. 

Below are the two documents presented by Centreville officials on her birthday. They were given to Moody’s son, Sasha Straus, and her siblings, Fred Moody Jr., Adline Moody, and Ralph Jefferson. Larry Lee, former mayor of Centreville, was not able to attend the ceremony, but he said earlier: 

     “I think it’s a good thing to honor a person such as Anne Moody who was dedicated and made sacrifices for others. She fought for a good cause and she put her life on the line in the struggle for freedom and civil rights.”

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Proclamation for Anne Moody Day-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“We came from a very poor family, and when (Anne Moody) joined the movement, she did it because it was something that needed to be done. She wasn’t out there just to be there. I’m very proud of her for what she did. She made it better for me.” – Adline Moody, sister of Anne Moody, in interview with the Associated Press (Feb. 7, 2015)

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Resolution for Anne Moody Street

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“Coming of Age was a big deal when it came out, and it’s still a big deal now, nearly fifty years later. It is read in literature and history classes in high schools, colleges and universities throughout the country, indeed, around the world. It is one of those rare sorts of books that has never gone out of print. It is a modern-day classic.” -- M. J. O’Brien, author of We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jackson Woolworth’s Sit-In and the Movement It Inspired

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For more information:

Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi