Vidalia seeks historical marker to honor Miss-Lou Memorial Day parade’s African American roots

Vidalia moves to secure a state historical marker honoring the African American origins of the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade, one of the nation’s longest-running tributes.

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
December 23, 2025

The Town of Vidalia is seeking a historical marker to commemorate its part in the long-running Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade. DEMOCRAT FILE PHOTO (Click on image to enlarge.)

VIDALIA, La. — The Town of Vidalia is seeking a historical marker to commemorate the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade, one of the longest-running Memorial Day traditions in the United States.

On Dec. 9, the Vidalia Board of Aldermen approved $1,000 for the marker, which it hopes to acquire through the Louisiana Historical Marker Program.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said in a recent interview that the cost is not an issue. “I think this is a worthy project,” he said. “Commemorating that parade would be a really nice thing to do. We will get it no matter what it takes. The price isn’t a heavy lift.”

Craft said the location will be determined later. “We want it to be placed in an area where it can get some traction. We will try to come up with the best possible location for it where people can see it,” he said. However, he added, he will support any location decided by the board.

Once the Louisiana marker is officially approved, Vidalia will join Natchez in honoring the Memorial Day tradition. Natchez’s marker was approved earlier this year by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Its installation, approved for 639 S. Canal St., is expected in 2026.

Craft said the idea for the marker originated with Aldermen Tron McCoy of District 1 and Robert Gardner of District 2.

According to Gardner, the marker will highlight a long-held tradition and important piece of African American history in Vidalia and Natchez.

“It all started in Vidalia,” said Gardner in a recent interview. “I remember as a kid participating in the parade. I’ve been walking in the parade since I was eight.”

He said participation in the parade has been a lifelong family tradition not just for his family but for many families in Vidalia. “We have really never not marched,” he said.

James Theres, historian and director of “The 30th of May” documentary, said he was pleased to learn of Vidalia’s interest in the marker.

“I’m delighted to hear that the citizens of Vidalia will be recognized with a marker commemorating their contribution to the historic ‘30th of May’ parade,” he said. “This marker is for those patriots who have passed on, but as important, it’s for future generations to carry the torch forward. This tradition must not extinguish because based on my research, it’s one of the longest-running, consecutive Memorial Day traditions in the United States.”

Historian Cheryl Wilkinson has noted, “The earliest days of the parade can be documented at least to 1884, but possibly earlier though I've not been able to document. Newspaper accounts of the earliest events emphasize that it is the Black community holding the observance.”

The Memorial Day parade, which started in the late 1800s, was originally held on May 30, and was called “The 30th of May Parade.” Participants began the procession in Vidalia at the Parson Brownlow Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post #23 at its original location in Old Town Vidalia, according to Wilkinson. “At some point after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, the Post's headquarters was moved to its current location on Magnolia Street,” she said.

Before the original Natchez-Vidalia Bridge was built in 1940, Parson Brownlow GAR members and other parade participants sailed from Vidalia on a ferry to Silver Street, where they joined up with the General John A. Logan Post No. 24 of Natchez. Together they marched to the Natchez National Cemetery, where a ceremony was held to honor the deceased military service members.

After the bridge was built, hundreds of participants began their trek at the Vidalia GAR Post #23's headquarters on Magnolia Street. From there, they marched to the Louisiana side of the bridge and crossed over to Natchez. They met up with the Natchez GAR at the toll booth for the bridge and then proceeded to the cemetery.

The tradition now includes a stop at the Natchez Visitor Center at 640 S. Canal -- which is near the site of the historic toll booth -- before proceeding to the cemetery. The entire trek is about four miles.

See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/vidalia-seeks-historical-marker-to-honor-miss-lou-memorial-day-parades-african-american-roots-a43a07cb

Adams County supervisors approve marker for Black legislators of Reconstruction

Adams County will install a new courthouse marker honoring 10 Black Reconstruction-era lawmakers, spotlighting Mississippi’s first African American legislators.

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat

December 18, 2025

Adams County Courthouse will be the site of a new historical marker honoring 10 Black legislators from Adams County who were elected after the Civil War. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Adams County is poised to install a new state historical marker on the grounds of the Adams County Courthouse that will honor its 10 Black legislators elected during Reconstruction. The marker is part of the “Making Their Mark” project, a statewide, grant-funded initiative to recognize the first African Americans to hold legislative office in Mississippi after the Civil War.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors approved a request for the marker, presented by DeeDee Baldwin of Mississippi State University, on November 17.

“This marker recognizes an important chapter in Adams County’s history and the men who served during a transformative period in Mississippi,” said Board President Kevin Wilson. “By acknowledging their service, we are helping preserve the full historical record for future generations and providing an opportunity for education, reflection, and community dialogue.”
 
The marker will be acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Installation is planned for late 2026. The exact location on the courthouse grounds will be determined later as the matter is reviewed by the Natchez Preservation Commission.
 
According to Baldwin, the unveiling of the marker will be accompanied by a community event featuring creative performances by local students. All costs for its manufacture and installation will be covered by the “Making Their Mark” project through a grant from Monument Lab, a public arts nonprofit based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
 
As of December 11, a total of 11 markers has been approved by county boards of supervisors across the state.
 
“We are so appreciative of the county supervisors who have worked with us so far to make this project a reality,” said Baldwin. “The support we’ve encountered is wonderful to see.”
 
The draft text for the front side of the marker reads:
 
The First Black Legislators
 
After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment and a new state constitution enabled the people of Mississippi to elect 162 Black men to state or national office over the next 20 years, more than any other state. Ten of these legislators represented Adams County, including Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American to serve in either house of the U.S. Congress. The overthrow of Reconstruction and passage of the 1890 state constitution ended multiracial democracy in Mississippi for over 70 years.
 
The text proposed for the back side reads:
 
The following Black Men from Adams County served in the legislature from 1870-1891:
United States Congress: John Roy Lynch and Hiram Rhodes Revels
State Senate: Jeremiah M.P. Williams
State House of Representatives: George F. Bowles, Felix L. Cory, Willis Davis, William W. Hence, Henry P. Jacobs, William H. Lynch, George R. Washington
 
Baldwin and Chuck Yarborough of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science are co-directors of the “Making Their Mark Project” team, which comprises researchers and historians working to install markers and spearhead community programming in 22 counties.
 
Team members include Brother Rogers, historian and former employee of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez; Dr. Robby Luckett, professor and director of the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University; Heather Denne, executive director for Community Engagement at Jackson State University; and Vickie Roberts Ratliff of Land, Literacy, Legacy LLC.
 
Baldwin, who serves as associate professor and engagement librarian at Mississippi State University Libraries, is a leading authority on the Black legislators who served during Reconstruction. Her website, “Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi,” provides biographies, photos, newspaper clippings, and other resources to assist people researching these elected officials.
 
For her work on the website, Baldwin received an Award of Merit from the Mississippi Historical Society in 2025 and has been honored with the 2026 Humanities Scholar Award by the Mississippi Humanities Council.
 

See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/adams-county-supervisors-approve-marker-for-black-legislators-of-reconstruction-91810069

Wyatt Waters donates giclée print to Dr. John Banks House

Acclaimed artist Wyatt Waters donates a giclée of his Dr. John Banks House watercolor, spotlighting Natchez civil rights history and a museum still fighting for restoration funds.
 
By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
December 16, 2025

Wyatt Waters of Wyatt Waters Gallery recently donated a giclee print of his his painting, "Dr. John Banks House," to the staff of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum at 9 St. Catherine St. From left are Jacqulyn B. Williams, Veula Robinson, Thelma Newsome, Mayor Dan Gibson, Rev. LeRoy White, Wyatt Waters, Kristi Waters, Willie Woods, Dora Hawkins, and Bonita Reed. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. –  When Thelma Newsome learned that Wyatt Waters had painted the watercolor, “Dr. John Banks House,” back in July, she became excited and curious.

Newsome, a manager of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, said the museum staff wanted a copy of the painting, but she wondered if she could purchase one with the help of her children.

“When I contacted Wyatt Waters Gallery, I was told that Mr. Waters would be happy to donate a giclée print of the original painting to the museum,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it. We were on Cloud 15 all day. We really do appreciate his gift.”

Newsome shared these remarks Friday, December 12, at the museum, where Wyatt Waters and his wife, Kristi, officially presented the artwork to the Rev. LeRoy White, pastor of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, and the church’s staff that manages the museum.

The church inherited the Banks house in 2011 from Frank Robinson Jr., the grandson of Banks. The house, located at 9 St. Catherine St., became a museum in 2020. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also the site of Natchez’s first Mississippi Freedom Trail marker.

Banks was the first Black physician in Natchez, and his home served as the headquarters for the Natchez NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Newsome is one of several volunteers who operate the museum. She is joined by Dora Hawkins, Willie Woods, Jacqulyn B. Williams.

Wyatt Waters, right, presents a giclee print of his watercolor of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum to the Rev. LeRoy White, pastor of Rose Hill  Missionary Baptist Church, which owns and operates the museum. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

At Friday’s presentation, White thanked the Waters for their donation. He said he is excited about Rose Hill’s ownership of the house. “We’re going to show it off to make sure everybody all over Mississippi, as well as the world, know what Dr. John Banks stood for,” he said.

Mayor Dan Gibson also participated in the presentation. “What a blessing it is to have Kristi and Wyatt here in Natchez,” he said. “What is also such a blessing is, Wyatt is capturing so much of our history in such a beautiful way through his art, and it’s being shown all over.”

Gibson said people are discovering Natchez because of Wyatt Waters’ art. “He is internationally known, internationally travelled, and he is also a fabulous painter,” Gibson said.

Speaking to Wyatt Waters, Gibson said, “I’m grateful that you have done this for the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum.”

Wyatt Waters replied, “It’s our honor to be able to document this. A big part of our book is the story and not just the building.”

When Newsome thanked Wyatt Waters for the painting, he said, “Without y’all, there wouldn’t be anything for me to paint here. Thank you for maintaining this building and for keeping this history alive.”

In April 2025, Gibson met with the museum staff and kicked off a campaign to raise $15,000 to repair the building’s aging roof. The two-story wood-framed house was built in 1892. Gibson also honored Banks posthumously with a Key to the City, which he presented to Hawkins and other museum staff.

According to Williams, a museum volunteer, the mayor’s campaign succeeded. She said they hired Chimneyville Roofing of Jackson to repair the roof, and the company finished the job in October.

However, there is more work to be done. “We still need about $10,000 to $15,000 to repair the ceiling inside that was damaged by the roof leaks,” Williams said. “We also want to expand the museum to the rooms upstairs for our civil rights history. However, we need an elevator for ADA purposes.”

Williams said there is also a need for cosmetic work for the porch.

Tours of the museum are available by appointment. Information on tours or donations is available by calling 601-807-2537. All donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made out to the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum and mailed to P.O. Box 501, Natchez, MS 39121.

See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/wyatt-waters-donates-gicle-print-to-dr-john-banks-house-cf43b39b/

2026 MLK parade will honor Natchez Deacons for Defense

Jackie Posey to serve as grand marshal

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
December 4, 2025 | 2:35 PM

(Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- The 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will honor the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice, with community leader Jackie Posey serving as grand marshal, announced Parade Chairperson Jacqueline Marsaw.

The parade, which is sponsored by the Natchez Branch of the NAACP, starts at 3 p.m. Monday, January 19. Participants will line up at 2 p.m. on Broadway Street on the Bluff.
 
The theme for the parade is, “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” a phrase taken from a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It appears in this excerpt: “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
 
The grand marshal was selected because of her leadership and commitment in helping people throughout the community, said Marsaw.
 
She noted that when Posey is not working her regular job, she serves the Natchez community as the director of the Black Mustard Seed Community Service Group. Through the group’s Southwest Diaper Bank of the Miss-Lou, she and other volunteers help single mothers and others in need by donating pampers and milk, said Marsaw.
 
Posey said she is grateful to Marsaw for the recognition. “It’s a surprise and an honor,” she said. “I feel very privileged to do this.”
 
Posey is an administrative assistant at the Adams County Sheriff Office. She also directs the Adams County Sheriff Office Junior Cadet Program through which she works with students ages 10 to 18. In addition to providing them with training, she guides them in community service projects, including the “Stop Gun Violence” program presented recently by Grieving Mothers & Fathers, Positive Impact, and the Natchez NAACP.
 
In regard to the Natchez Deacons, Marsaw said it is fitting to honor them in the parade because of their courage and their contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez. The Deacons provided armed protection for the Black community and civil rights workers against the violence of the Ku Klux Klan.
 
“Their history is very interesting and inspiring,” said Marsaw. “When I was in school, I didn’t know this history. But they were there for our community when it counted.”
 
Marsaw said she interviewed some of the Deacons in 2016 and 2017 for a book project led by Judge Mary Lee Toles and the NAACP. However, Toles died in 2017, and as a result, the book was never published. Still, Marsaw noted, what she and other NAACP members learned was impactful and will not be forgotten.
 
“The Deacons told us that they didn’t hide from the KKK. They got on roof tops and watched the Klan. Sometimes they stayed up all night, taking turns watching the Klan,” she said, adding, 2026 is a good time to honor them.
 
The parade route will start at North Broadway and Franklin streets and will travel along Franklin to N. Dr. M.L. King St., where it will turn left and proceed up to Minor and Spring streets, where it will end.
 
Anyone interested in participating in the parade must register by January 15. Entry fees include $50 “for unlimited entries.” The fee is $10 for a single car or truck and $5 for a single horse. No four-wheelers allowed.
 
First- through Fifth-place awards will be presented for the best floats.
 
For more information, call 601-443-1350.

See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2025/12/04/2026-mlk-parade-will-honor-natchez-deacons-for-defense/

 

 

Wreaths Across America ceremony set for December 13

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
December 4, 2025 | 10:46 AM
 

As participants in the Wreaths Across America program, Home with Heroes volunteers placed wreaths on the graves of more than 700 U.S. military veterans in December 2024 at the Natchez National Cemetery.

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Home with Heroes will host the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 13, at the Natchez National Cemetery. The annual event is part of a nation-wide program in which millions of people pay tribute to U.S. military veterans by placing wreaths on their graves.

Saturday’s program is free and open to the public.

“As a veteran and the widow of a veteran, Wreaths Across America is more than just a patriotic act—it’s a deeply personal way to honor the veterans who have passed,” said retired Army Major Gabi Crousillac. She is the vice president of Home with Heroes and chair of the Mayor’s Veterans Task Force.

Retired Army First Sergeant Ben Tucker participates each year in the Wreaths Across America program. For him, it is more than a tradition.

“I do it because I am a soldier, a retired soldier,” he said. “I understand the contributions the soldiers have made to this country and the future we all share. It’s more than worth the sacrifice.”

Tucker is a board member of Home with Heroes, and he also serves on the Mayor’s Veterans Task Force. He is the first vice commander of the VFW Post 9573.

Crousillac said the day’s ceremony will be held on the old side of the Natchez National Cemetery at the Committal Service Shelter. It will open with a prayer by Vietnam-era Army veteran Doug McAlister and the welcome by Mayor Dan Gibson.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Herman Curry, Jr. will serve as the guest speaker. Curry is the instructor of the Natchez High School’s AFJROTC program. The ceremony will include a presentation of wreaths by Boy Scout Troop 158.

Crousillac said members of the local Dirt Broke motorcycle group, many of whom are veterans, will also attend the ceremony. “Taps” will be performed by McAlister, who is president of the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou.

Crousillac will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Following the ceremony, over 200 wreaths will be laid on the graves of the veterans.

This year, Crousillac will place a wreath on the grave of her husband, Brad Cromie, who died in 2024. He served in the Marine Corps. She said the volunteers will also be sure to lay a wreath on the grave of G. Mark LaFrancis, the founder and former president of Home with Heroes — and energetic promoter of the Wreaths Across America program. LaFrancis passed in June 2024 following a long battle with cancer.

Speaking last year, retired Army Lt. Col. Larry Smith, former president of Home with Heroes, praised LaFrancis for his contributions to the Natchez community. “Mark lived his life with purpose, providing support to local veterans and their families, as well as to the broader community, through his writing and his filmmaking, he said. “His example has been an inspiration to us all.”

LaFrancis was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His wife, Eileen Mary Maher, died in August. Her name appears on the opposite side of LaFrancis’ headstone.

See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2025/12/04/wreaths-across-america-ceremony-set-for-december-13/

New details reveal exact location of George Metcalfe’s 1965 car bombing in Natchez

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Sunday, November 30, 2025, page 4A)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

 

New details reveal exact location of George Metcalfe’s 1965 car bombing in Natchez 

 

By Roscoe Barnes III

Ever since I learned of George Metcalfe's attempted assassination in 1965 at the Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company, I have wondered about the location of his car. Where exactly was it parked when it was bombed?
 
It is often reported that it was “in” the parking lot of the Armstrong plant. One source notes it was “parked on an adjacent street” and another states it was “parked just outside the plant.”
 
Now, thanks to two eyewitnesses, I know where this horrific incident occurred.
 
Metcalfe's car, a 1955 Chevrolet sedan, was parked in the area that is now a triangle between Kelly Avenue, Brenham Avenue, and South Concord Avenue, across from the Old South Winery. The site is on the west side of the plant -- outside the company fence.
 
I learned of this location in October 2025 during an interview with Frances Bailey and Paul Bacon, both of whom were teenagers in 1965.
 
As many of us know, Metcalfe was the president of the Natchez NAACP. He was targeted by the Klan because of his activism and the fact that he led a voter registration drive that added over 8,000 Black residents to the local rolls.
 
On August 27, 1965, he completed his shift at Armstrong and walked to his car. He turned the ignition and a bomb, planted inside the car by the Klan, exploded. Metcalfe survived with severe injuries. Unfortunately, no one was ever charged with the crime.
 
Historians believe the bombing became a turning point in the local Civil Rights Movement. It galvanized the Black community, prompting them to rise up in protests. They organized rallies and boycotted white-owned businesses. Their work led to one of the most successful civil rights campaigns in Mississippi.
 
According to Bacon, Metcalfe’s car was parked outside the company fence on South Concord, facing west. This location – and position of the car – aligns with an old black-and-white photo of the mangled vehicle. In the background of the photo, a house on South Concord sits atop a ridge above the car.
 
Bailey said the site at the time was not a triangle: it was simply a grassy area where Metcalfe and others parked. She recalled that she, her brother, and other teenagers were outside her home on Brenham when they saw Metcalfe enter his car. After the explosion, they ran to the car and saw a bloody sight that she will never forget. She said Metcalfe was conscious and asking for help. Bacon, who was 17, was walking nearby when he heard the explosion. He said he ran to the scene, and like Bailey, he saw Metcalfe asking for help.
 
Now that we know more about the location of this tragedy, we can mark this site and use it to pay tribute to the man who risked his life in the struggle for civil rights.
 
I have two suggestions. First, we must preserve the testimonies of the eyewitnesses by doing an oral history. Such a project can be funded by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council or the America250 grant program. Second, we can acquire a historical marker through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History or purchase one from a business like the Natchez Monument Company.
 
Because there is currently no sign or marker near the plant that tells the story of Metcalfe, now is an ideal time to implement these suggestions or find other tangible ways to honor his legacy.
 
---------------
 
ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez.

HISTORY LESSON: Rosenwald, Washington honored with historical marker

A new historical marker in Natchez honors Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington for funding Black schools in Adams County, highlighting their lasting impact on education and community progress.

By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Sunday, November 23, 2025

A marker honoring Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington for their support of Black schools in Adams County and the American South was recently unveiled in a special ceremony. The marker is posted in front of the administrative office of the Natchez-Adams County School District on Homochitto Street. Pictured from left are Dr. Cecile Dianne Bunch, Dr. Brenda Robison, Tony Fields, LLJuna Grennell Weir, Superintendent Zandra McDonald, Phillip West, Bobby Dennis, and Mayor Dan Gibson. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ – Officials of the Natchez-Adams County School District unveiled a historical marker Thursday, November 20, that pays tribute to Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932), who funded five Black schools in Adams County in 1921. Rosenwald was a wealthy businessman, philanthropist, and owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company.

His relationship with Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), founder of Tuskegee Institute, which is now Tuskegee University, led to the creation of the Rosenwald Fund in 1917 that provided financial support for African American schools in the South.

Bobby Dennis, the director of the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, said the marker unveiled in Natchez honors “the significant educational legacy of the Rosenwald Schools of Adams County.”

The marker is posted in front of the administrative office of the school district at 10 Homochitto Street.

“This marker is in front of the school district office to recognize the fact that Rosenwald Schools were located in each of the five county districts,” said Dennis before the unveiling ceremony. He noted Fitts School, Kingston School, Milford School, Pine Mount School, and Roseland School, were all funded by Rosenwald. 

“It is important for us to include the educational progression of the county as well as the city,” Dennis said. “Education is still our most important asset for preserving the forward movement of the city, and our youths are the future.”

A close-up of the new marker. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Dennis said Philip West, vice president of the district’s school board, was one of his biggest motivators in getting the Rosenwald story out correctly “because of the way he helped pioneer the building of the new Natchez High School.”

Dennis conducted the research for the new marker and organized the unveiling ceremony that was hosted by the school district. He said the marker was sponsored by Jerry Klinger of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, in partnership with the museum and Regions Bank.

Superintendent Zandra McDonald attended the ceremony along with board members and several officials of the school district.

“It’s inspiring to see the intersection of our history and our present moment,” said McDonald. “We honor and celebrate the contributions of those who laid the foundation for formal education in the Natchez-Adams School District. We also celebrate the forward-thinking vision of our Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees, who continue to reimagine what education can and should be for the students of Natchez and Adams County.”

McDonald offered thanks to the founders and current leadership of the Natchez-Adams educational system. “And most importantly, we acknowledge that progress is a collective effort,” she said. “It takes all of us—educators, families, community members, and partners—to ensure that the Natchez-Adams School District continues to grow, continues to evolve, and continues to keep its focus on preparing our students for success in a dynamic and ever-changing world.”

Mayor Dan Gibson also participated in the day’s ceremony. Speaking on Friday, he said, “The story of Mr. Rosenwald and his passion for education is truly inspiring. It speaks to our time today. Without a doubt, education and exceptional opportunities are the answer for all of our citizens. I am grateful to Bobby Dennis and NAPAC for bringing this little-known story to light. May it inspire us as a people to do all we can to see that our children have every advantage they can be afforded.”

Dennis said it is important to acknowledge the contributions of both Rosenwald and Washington. Together, they built nearly 5,000 schools across the South, he said, adding many of these schools were isolated and existed in rural communities “where educational opportunity had been intentionally denied for generations.”

The Rosenwald Schools marker was designed and manufactured by Lake Shore Industries of Erie, Pennsylvania.

See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/rosenwald-washington-honored-with-historical-marker-12585e43
 
 

Mississippi Historical Society

The board of directors of the Mississippi Historical Society met on November 14 at the Two Mississippi Museums. Don't miss the annual meeting in Meridian on March 5-6, 2026. More soon! (Click on image to enlarge.)
 

Proud to serve

Many thanks to Jan Griffey and The Natchez Democrat.

I was proud to serve, and I am both grateful and humbled to be part of this Veterans Day feature.

 
#VeteransDay

(Click on image to enlarge.)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

See more at this link: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/from-mississippi-to-germany-roscoe-barnes-iii-on-finding-purpose-travel-and-education-in-the-army-dc30494f

Prince Ibrahima honored with historical marker near Historic Jefferson College

by Mississippi Monitor | Oct 28, 2025 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez
 
 

Descendants of Prince Ibrahima and Dr. John Coates Cox join members of the Natchez Historical Society for a photo in front of Ibrahima's marker. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori, the African prince who spent 40 years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation, now has a historical marker that commemorates his life and legacy.

The marker was unveiled Friday, October 24, near Historic Jefferson College, on the corner of Jefferson College Street and Highway 61 North.

Over 50 people turned out for the event that was hosted by the Natchez Historical Society, the organization that sponsored the marker acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Michael Morris, historian and director of the Two Mississippi Museums, served as the guest speaker. He said the story of Ibrahima is one of the most important in American history.

Michael Morris, director of The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, was the guest speaker at the ceremony honoring the prince. Photo by Albert L. Jones. (Click on image to enlarge.)

“There are many connections between Ibrahima and Jefferson College, the state’s first institution of higher learning and Mississippi’s birthplace,” he said. “Understanding this story is key to understanding nineteenth century Mississippi. I’m thankful to the Natchez Historical Society for sponsoring this marker to recognize Prince Ibrahima.”

The ceremony attendees included descendants of the prince, historians, MDAH staff, and Alderwoman Valencia Hall, among others.

“What a historic day to honor a man forgotten by the very city that enslaved him, yet by today’s actions he will live in perpetuity,” said Hall after the ceremony. “What a testament to the power of humanity where the descendants of not only Prince Ibrahima were present for this historic moment, but the descendants of Dr. Cox and Mr. Foster standing together as One. A true testament of what it means to bridge races, religions and ethnicities into one through time and healing. Live on Prince Ibrahima!”

Karen Hill, past president of the Natchez Historical Society, shared opening remarks at the event. She said the story of the prince is fascinating and deserved recognition.

“This is the first historical marker honoring the prince. … Many people in this area are familiar with him while others know very little about his life” she said. “His story is one of tragedy and triumph. If this event stirs interest in him and much more, we have succeeded.”

Hill said the day’s ceremony promoted a sense of community, something that is good for everyone. 

David Dreyer is a local historian and genealogist. Photo by Albert L. Jones.
(Click on image to enlarge.)

David Dreyer, local historian and genealogist, commented on the location of the marker. “We come here today to mark the place where a seemingly improbable meeting occurred,” he said. “Two-hundred-and-eighteen years ago in 1807, Abdul Rahman, the enslaved son of King Ibrahima Sori of Futa Jallon, an independent nation in West Africa, came to the marketplace here to sell sweet potatoes and recognized a man he met 26 years earlier in 1781 at his father’s home in Timbo because he had a patch over one eye.”

The ceremony also featured remarks by Adams County Supervisor Warren Gaines, District 5; and Cheri Young Burkhalter, descendant of Dr. John Coates Cox, whose name appears on the marker.

Dr. Artemus Gaye, a descendant of the prince, was scheduled to speak, but could not attend the event. His remarks were presented by Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez and president of the Mississippi Historical Society.

Rev. Clifton Marvel, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, gave the invocation and benediction.

“This historical marker of the prince is a testimonial on these grounds here at Jefferson College that freedom comes with responsibility,” said Gaye. “Freedom has in its letters: Fidelity, Respect, Earnestly, Encouragement, Duty, Obligation, and Mutuality.” 

Members of the Natchez Historical Society pose with the historical marker the society funded for Prince Ibrahima. From left are Albert King, Nicole Harris, Karen Hill, Daye Dearing and Dr. Roscoe Barnes III. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

For Gaines, the ceremony was a proud moment. “It’s an honor to be here and be part of this,” he said, adding Ibrahima’s story is one of hope and resilience. “It’s an honor to have this (marker) in my district and in Adams County.”

Gaines said many of Ibrahima’s descendants live in his district.

Burkhalter, the 4th great-granddaughter of Cox, said she loves the story of how Cox and Ibrahima met.

“I follow God, and I read the word,” she said. “God’s hand is so clear in this story it is amazing. What are the chances that Dr. Cox’s life would be saved (in Africa), and what are the chances that Prince Ibrahima would at least be able to die as a free man in Africa. I love the kindness and respect shown by two generations of two families.”

Speaking further, she said, “In this crazy world full of greed and cruelty, two generation of two families tried to do the right thing. They were a good, descent, respectful, loving people, and I just love that.”

See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/prince-ibrahima-honored-with-historical-marker-near-historic-jefferson-college/

A great day in Natchez, Mississippi!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

This marker was unveiled Friday, October 24, 2025, near Historic Jefferson College on the corner of Highway 61 North and Jefferson College Street. Many thanks to the Natchez Historical Society for hosting the ceremony and sponsoring the marker, which was acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Photo by Lynsey Gilbert

Marker honoring Prince Ibrahima to be dedicated Oct. 24

A historical marker honoring Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, enslaved for 40 years near Natchez, will be dedicated on Oct. 24 at Historic Jefferson College, commemorating his remarkable legacy.

Roscoe Barnes III
Special to The Democrat

Published October 17, 2025

A historical marker honoring Prince Ibrahima will be dedicated Oct. 24 in Natchez. COURTESY PHOTO (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima (1762-1829), who was enslaved for 40 years on Thomas Foster’s plantation near Natchez, will be honored with a historical marker on Friday, October 24, near Historic Jefferson College.

 
A dedication ceremony hosted by the Natchez Historical Society, the sponsor of the marker, will be held at 11 a.m. on the corner of Highway 61 North and Jefferson College Street. The event is free to the public. Visitors are asked to bring their lawn chairs.
The marker will be the first in the Natchez-Adams County area that pays tribute to Ibrahima. It was acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
 
“Prince Ibrahima's incredible life story and his quest for freedom reached the highest levels of the American government and deserves to be remembered in our history,” said Brother Rogers, MDAH historian and secretary-treasurer for the Mississippi Historical Society.
 
Karen Hill, past president of the society, said she is grateful to the Natchez Historical Society for agreeing to fund the marker and host the dedication ceremony. She said, “The story of Prince Ibrahima is an important part of Natchez-Adams County history that should not only be commemorated, but also preserved for our community, visitors, and future generations. His story has been told in books, films, and articles. Now a part of his story will be told through this historical marker.”

Michael Morris, director of The Two Museums — Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson, will be the guest speaker at the ceremony for the placing of the marker honoring Prince Ibrahima. COURTESY PHOTO (Click on image to enlarge.)

Michael Morris, director of The Two Museums — Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Jackson, will be the guest speaker at the ceremony.
Morris is a graduate of Jackson State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in political science. While attending university, he worked at the Margaret Walker Center and Fannie Lou Hamer Institute on Citizenship and Democracy.

A recognized historian, Morris served on the commission tasked with commemorating the City of Jackson’s bicentennial in 2022. He has also written markers for the Mississippi Freedom Trail.

Morris was the Mississippi archivist for the “Our Story, Our Terms” civil rights project at Duke University. He now serves on the advisory board of the Mississippi Book Festival.

The dedication ceremony will feature remarks by Warren Gaines, District 5 Supervisor of Adams County; Dr. Artemus Gaye, seventh generation descendant of Prince Ibrahima; David Dreyer, local historian and genealogist; and Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez and president of the Mississippi Historical Society.

Cheri Young Burkhalter, the 4th great-granddaughter of Dr. John Coates Cox, will share remarks about her family history and Ibrahima’s meeting with Cox in 1807 at the marketplace that was near Jefferson College. COURTESY PHOTO (Click on image to enlarge.)

Cheri Young Burkhalter, the 4th great-granddaughter of Dr. John Coates Cox, will share remarks about her family history and Ibrahima’s meeting with Cox in 1807 at the marketplace that was near Jefferson College.

Hill will serve as the master of ceremonies. Rev. Clifton Marvel, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, will give the invocation, and Rev. LeRoy White, pastor of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, will give the benediction.

For more information, call 601-492-3004 or send email to Roscoe@visitnatchez.org.

Ibrahima historical marker a gift to Natchez

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, October 8, 2025, page 4A)

Natchez will honor Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima with its first historical marker dedicated to the enslaved African prince, celebrating his legacy at a ceremony near Jefferson College on Oct. 24.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

Ibrahima historical marker a gift to Natchez

 

By Roscoe Barnes III

 

The Natchez Historical Society is planning a dedication ceremony for a historical marker that will honor the legacy of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima (1762-1829). The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, near Historic Jefferson College on the corner of Highway 61 and Jefferson College Street.
 
Natchez Historical Society is also the sponsor of the marker that was acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
 
The marker will be the first one in the Natchez-Adams County area to honor the prince who was enslaved for 40 years on Thomas Foster’s plantation just outside of Natchez.
With that in mind, we could say that this dedication ceremony will be historic in more ways than one.
 
Gift to community
 
In October 2024, the society’s board members approved a donation of $3,420 to cover the cost of the marker. The total cost includes $2,670 for the marker and post, plus an additional $750 for a sign underneath that reads, “Sponsored by the Natchez Historical Society.”
 
Karen Hill, former president of the society, said the marker is an important gift to the Natchez-Adams County community and to the descendants of Ibrahima, many of whom still live in Natchez.
 
Ibrahima’s story is told in Dr. Terry Alford’s book, “Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South” (Oxford University Press, 1977). Alford praised the society for its donation, its initiative, and the foresight it has shown to commemorate Ibrahima.
 
Ibrahima’s backstory
 
Ibrahima was a Muslim prince who said he was born in 1762 in Timbuktu, a city in the current western African country of Mali. He grew up in Timbo, Guinea, West Africa. His father, Ibrahima Sori, ruled as a political and religious leader in the Futa Jallon highlands of Guinea.
 
By the age of 26, Ibrahima became a colonel in his father’s army. In January 1788, he and his soldiers were returning home to celebrate a victory when they were ambushed by the Hebohs, a rival non-Muslim group that prevented Futa Jallon from trading with Europeans. Ibrahima was captured and sold to slave traders for two flasks of powder, a few trade muskets, eight hands of tobacco, and two bottles of rum.
 
 As a captive of the slave traders, Ibrahima sailed from West Africa to the West Indies and on to New Orleans, from where he sailed north on the Mississippi River to Natchez.
 
Ibrahima arrived in Natchez in August 1788 at the site that is known as Under-the-Hill. From there, he and his friend, Samba, who served under him in the military, were sold to a farmer named Thomas Foster for $930.
 
In 1791, Foster purchased a woman in her early 20s named Isabella. She and Ibrahima married on Christmas Day of 1794. The two of them welcomed nine children into their family: five sons and four daughters.
 
In 1803, Ibrahima met newspaper editor and printer Andrew Marschalk, who is today known as the “Father of Mississippi Journalism.” He would play a significant role in helping Ibrahima to gain his freedom.
 
Connection to Jefferson College
 
The area near Jefferson College was selected as the site for Ibrahima’s marker because of its connection to his story.
 
First, the land occupied by Jefferson College was donated by John Foster and James Foster, according to the National Register of Historic Places. Both men were brothers of Thomas Foster.
 
Second, it was in the area near the college that Ibrahima recognized Dr. John Coats Cox in 1807 at the market. Cox, an Irishman, had sailed to West Africa in 1781. After going ashore to hunt, he became lost and ill but was rescued by the Fulani people and taken to Timbo, where Ibrahima’s father cared for him.
 
After their chance meeting in Mississippi, the doctor tried for many years to purchase Ibrahima’s freedom, but Thomas Foster refused to release him. Even so, Ibrahima’s fame spread because of his meeting with Cox, and it eventually led to his freedom.
 
Finding freedom
 
In 1828, Ibrahima gained his freedom through the help of Natchez newspaper editor, Marschalk, and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Clay in President John Quincy Adams’ administration. Clay authorized Marschalk’s efforts to obtain Ibrahima’s freedom.
 
On Friday, Feb. 22, 1828, Thomas Foster delivered Ibrahima to Marschalk’s printing office along with a deed in trust for Ibrahima. Ibrahima was 66. Isabella’s freedom was later purchased for $200.
 
On April 8, 1828, Ibrahima and Isabella traveled with their family to the dock under the hill. They boarded the Neptune steamship and waved goodbye to their children, who remained enslaved. For several months after leaving Natchez, Ibrahima travelled to Washington, D.C., and Connecticut, among other places, on a fundraising campaign to help free his children. However, he came up short with his fundraising campaign.
 
In February 1829, he and Isabella sailed to Monrovia, Liberia, which the American Colonization Society had created as a home for formerly enslaved Africans. During their stay in Liberia, Ibrahima contracted a disease and died on July 6, 1829, at the age of 67. He never reached his homeland. Isabella remained in Liberia. Two of her sons later joined her.
 
--------------------
 

Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., is cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez.
 

Marker honoring Prince Ibrahima to be dedicated Oct. 24

(Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- A historical marker honoring Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima (1762-1829) will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Friday, October 24, near Historic Jefferson College on the corner of Highway 61 North and Jefferson College Street. The ceremony is being organized by the Natchez Historical Society, the sponsor of the marker that was acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Michael Morris, director of The Two Museums in Jackson, will be the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Ibrahima was a Muslim prince from West Africa who spent 40 years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation near Washington before gaining his freedom. The marker will be the first in the Natchez-Adams County area that pays tribute to Ibrahima.

This event is free to the public. For more information, call 601-492-3004 or send email to Roscoe@visitnatchez.org.

Celebrating with Anne Moody’s brother

I'm here with the Rev. Fred Moody Jr., brother of Anne Moody. He's mentioned throughout "Coming of Age in Mississippi." Photo taken Monday, September 15, 2025, at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville, Mississippi. Photo by Albert L. Jones (Click on image to enlarge.)

Anne Moody honored with Freedom Trail marker

by Mississippi Monitor | Sep 17, 2025 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Visit Natchez

(Click on image to enlarge.)

A Mississippi Freedom Trail marker honoring Anne Moody now stands in front of the church she attended – and wrote about – in her memoir, “Coming of Age in Mississippi.’'

The marker, which was unveiled Monday, September 15, is located on the northside of Highway 24 at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, 8755 Highway 24 East, Centreville. It is the first and only Freedom Trail marker installed in Wilkinson County.

About 80 people turned out for the ceremony that paid tribute to Moody as a civil rights activist, warrior for social justice, and respected author, whose memoir has remained in print since it was first published in December 1968.

Rev. Reginald M. Buckley, the guest speaker, said Moody’s Freedom Trail marker will stand as “a testimony of the importance of memory itself.”

“This marker is more than mere words inscribed upon metal,” Buckley said. He noted the marker is “a reminder, a storyteller, a sanctified witness that will speak to generations long after we have left this place.”

Rev. Fred Moody Jr., brother of Anne Moody, reads the inscription on the Mississippi Freedom Trail marker erected in her honor. The marker was unveiled in a ceremony Monday, September 15, at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville. Fred Moody is mentioned throughout Anne Moody's "Coming of Age in Mississippi." Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

The day’s program, which was held at Mount Pleasant, featured music by the Mount Pleasant Church Choir and inspiring messages from prominent leaders that included the Rev. LeReginald Jones, pastor of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church; Dr. Donzell Lee, president of Tougaloo College; Rep. Angela Cockerham, District 96; Rev. Fred Moody Jr., brother of Anne Moody; Dr. Daphne Chamberlain, chief program officer at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center; John Spann, program and outreach officer at the Mississippi Humanities Council; Rev. Larry Lee, pastor of Winans Chapel C.M.E. Church; and Senator Gary L. Brumfield, District 38.
 
Members of Anne Moody’s family attended the program, along with elected officials, pastors from across the state, and visitors from Natchez.
 
Buckley said it is important to remember Anne Moody as a bold and brilliant storyteller. He said she was a teller of an inconvenient story and uncomfortable truth.
 
Anne Moody, he said, told a “story that pulled back the blood-soaked veil and exposed the heart-wrenching reality of life for black people in the American South, specifically, Mississippi. She told a story that was difficult to hear in a culture that was not welcoming of her voice, not receptive to her perspective and in many instances, not even caring of her truth.”
 
All of the presenters spoke about the importance of Anne Moody’s contribution to the state’s history.
 
Jones recounted the history of Mount Pleasant and its role in Anne Moody’s life. The church, he said, has been a place that served as a school and community center for Black families. It was also a place that helped to develop “some theological thought, birth agents of change, great preachers, and great orators, agents of change and justice, like our celebrated native daughter, Ms. Anne Moody.”
 
According to Donzell Lee, Anne Moody was “a young lady of tremendous courage and tremendous foresight, who put herself in harm’s way at the forefront of civil rights in her day.”
 
Cockerham commented on the inspirational elements of Anne Moody’s life.
 
“Miss Moody’s acts of love, faith, and courage, remind us that the best lies deep within us,” she said. “Her life serves as an example to embrace God’s purpose for our lives no matter how difficult the journey gets, because God is always with us, and I have no doubt in my mind that God created and anointed Miss Moody for such a time.”
 
Fred Moody, Anne Moody’s brother, is mentioned throughout her book, along with their sister, Adline Moody, whom Fred Moody introduced at the ceremony. Both he and Adline Moody expressed gratitude for the day’s program. Fred Moody drew laughs when he told how he burned down the family’s house as a child. The story is captured in “Coming of Age in Mississippi.”
 
Chamberlain, a former history professor at Tougaloo College, told of how Anne Moody’s memoir affected her personally. She said Anne Moody’s work helped her to see the past and present “a little clearer.”
 
“Her activism made me stand a lot taller,” she said. “Her bravery made me this quiet little Black girl in Columbus, Mississippi, be a little bolder. Anne Moody’s legacy has influenced more than just me. It has touched readers locally and readers from all around the world.”
 
Spann, representing the Mississippi Humanities Council, acknowledged the assistance of U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in securing federal funds for the Freedom Trail markers. He said because of Thompson’s help, among others, the markers are free to communities across the state. “We have more than doubled the size of the Freedom Trail, taking it from 30 to 64 in just two years,” he said.
 
Brumfield gave the closing remarks. He said Anne Moody presented a story that resonates with many people. “She gives me courage to think that she thought outside the box. It’s ok to be different as long as you are making a difference.”
 
The Freedom Trail markers are administered by the Mississippi Humanities Council, in partnership with Visit Mississippi. They commemorate the people and places in the state that played important roles in the American Civil Rights Movement.
 
See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/anne-moody-honored-with-freedom-trail-marker/