Mayor Gibson proclaims Julyteenth as Natchez’s Day of Freedom

by Mississippi Monitor | Jul 13, 2026 | Capital/River
By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Mayor Dan Gibson issued a proclamation on Monday, July 13, on the front steps of City Hall recognizing Julyteenth — the day freedom came to Natchez with the arrival of the Union Army on July 13, 1863. Pictured (front row, left to right): Thelma Newsom, Alderwoman Valencia Hall, Mayor Dan Gibson, Chesney Doyle, and Vel Robinson. Second row (left to right): historian Jeff Mansell, Norma West, and the Rev. Clifton Marvel Sr. Back row (left to right): Joseph A.C. Smith and Roscoe Barnes III. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Mayor Dan Gibson presented a proclamation Monday officially recognizing July 13 as Julyteenth, the day freedom for enslaved people came to Natchez with the arrival of the Union Army on July 13, 1863.
 
“This is a very special day,” Gibson said during a ceremony on the front steps of City Hall. “Many of our citizens may not understand the significance of July 13, (but) the day is sacred in the history of our city.”
 
The term Julyteenth was coined by Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley, local historian, cultural preservationist, and coordinator of Friends of the Forks of the Roads Society.
 
Nationally, Juneteenth is celebrated as a day of independence and federal holiday observed annually on June 19. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, bringing news of freedom to enslaved African Americans there.
 
In Natchez, freedom came sooner. It came when Union forces arrived on July 13, 1863, nine days after the fall of Vicksburg.
 
“It was on this day that the Union Army offloaded at Natchez Under the Hill, and the U.S. 11th Illinois Regiment Infantry marched up Silver Street and began the occupation of Natchez,” Boxley said in a 2024 interview. “July 13 is when the Union Army seized control of Natchez and prompted thousands of enslaved people to begin fleeing plantations and travel to Natchez, where they found freedom behind the Union lines.”
 
While reading the proclamation, Gibson described Julyteenth as one of the most important days in Natchez’s history. The proclamation states that Union troops “arrived to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, bringing freedom to thousands of enslaved men, women, and children whose descendants remain an important part of the fabric of our community today – nearly two years before the events commemorated by Juneteenth in Galveston, Texas.”
 
The proclamation furthers acknowledges that slavery was a profound moral evil that denied the God-given dignity of human life. It notes that Natchez played a prominent role in the slave-based economy and was home to the Forks of the Road, the second largest slave market in the Deep South.
 
Because of the Union Army occupation, Natchez eventually became a place of refuge and beacon of hope, Gibson said, noting that many formerly enslaved people claimed liberty and began new lives as free citizens.
 
The proclamation also recognizes that during this period, Forks of the Road “was transformed into a place of purpose as newly freed men answered the call to serve in the United States Colored Troops, demonstrating extraordinary courage in the pursuit of liberty, justice, and the preservation of our nation.”
 
While still reading from the proclamation, Gibson said Julyteenth is about honoring the “resilience, determination, and enduring spirit of those who endured unimaginable hardship.”
 
He said the city recognizes with gratitude that the labor of enslaved people helped build Natchez and the state of Mississippi, as well as the nation. He said it is also important that this history be known and remembered by future generations.
 
Gibson called on residents not only to remember the sins of the past but also to celebrate the progress that has been made.
 
“May ‘Julyteenth Day’ forever be a day where freedom and equality are embraced, and where love heals the divisions of yesterday, allowing us to embrace the opportunities of today and tomorrow,” Gibson said.
 
Monday’s proclamation followed a weekend of Julyteenth commemorative, including a re-enactment by Jamal McCullan of Hiram Rhodes Revels’ speech Friday evening at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church; a workshop on history, race, and racial reconciliation led by the Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells on Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church; and a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday at Forks of the Road. The weekend concluded with
 
The weekend concluded with historian Jeff Mansell of Natchez National Historical Park presenting “When Freedom Came to Natchez” at Freedom Hall, the former home of a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
 
In addition to the City of Natchez, the events were organized by Kathleen Bond, superintendent of the Natchez National Historical Park; Joseph A.C. Smith, founder of BlackNatchez.org and owner of 1720 Gallery & Gift Shop; and Malcolm Innis, New Vision Broadcasting.

ArtsNatchez Gallery celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary

Special patriotic exhibit set for Saturday, July 11, in downtown Natchez

By Roscoe Barnes III

Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Jul 9, 2026 | 3:43 PM

ArtsNatchez Gallery Director Leon Hollins showcases Carolyn Terry's "Red, White and Blue" photograph, part of the collection that will be featured Saturday at the downtown gallery. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Like communities across the United States, ArtsNatchez Gallery will celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary with a special patriotic- themed art exhibit on Saturday, July 11, at 425 Main Street. The reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. and is free to the public. Refreshments will be served.

“We’re inviting all of our artists to participate,” said Gallery Director Leon Hollins. “We’re asking them to showcase their work using the colors red, white, and blue. We’re expecting to have photographs, banners, and paintings, and other pieces of art. It will be a great show for the public.”
 
Among the many works that will be displayed is Carolyn Terry’s photo of a red, white, and blue hot-air balloon. It was photographed over the Mississippi River three or four years ago, said Terry, who is based in Picayune. This and other images she photographed are “very Americana,” she said.
 
Terry said she appreciates the patriotic theme. “It’s a wonderful thing to celebrate our 250th anniversary,” she said. “I hope we as a nation continue to grow and that in another 50 years, our 300th’ anniversary will be even better.”
 
Terry said she remains optimistic about the nation’s future because of the people who want it to succeed. “That’s why we’ve made it to 250 years,” she said.
 
Terry is a master craftsman photographer, digital artist, and member of Professional Photographers of America Inc. She is the author of “Onward Mississippi,” a coffee table book with 65 images of her digital paintings and explanatory text based on locations throughout Mississippi. Her second book is “The Endurance of the Spirit: Mississippi Episcopal Churches.”
 
The works of Carolyn Weir, who is experimenting with patriotic colors in her banners, will also be featured in the exhibit. Weir said she is excited about Saturday’s event, which will highlight artwork that reflects what it means to be American.
 
“Our artists have come together and presented creations that tell a little bit of the story of our great country,” she said. “We invite the public to help us continue to celebrate the wonderful gift we have by living in America.”
 
In addition to being a painter, Weir is a kinetic mobile sculpture artist who specializes in “things that move,” she said, adding she also does abstract paintings.
 
Weir was recently awarded a $500 mini-grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission for the creative work she is exploring with banners.
 
ArtsNatchez Gallery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the arts in the greater Natchez area and is managed by a board of directors. It features local artists whose work spans a wide range of media, including photography, painting, ceramics, woodwork, fabric arts, and jewelry. Artwork is presented in oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink.
The gallery is open daily at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.
 

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.

'So thankful': Natchez High grad Jayda Myles receives 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

July 8, 2026

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.

Alcorn Alum Dr. John Plump Sings ‘Ol’ Man River’ at 16th Street Baptist Church

While attending the African American Travel Conference in April in Birmingham, Alabama, I had the opportunity to visit the 16th Street Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The church was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1963, killing four young girls and becoming one of the defining tragedies of the Civil Rights Movement.

During my visit, historian Barry McNealy gave a powerful presentation on the history of the church. His friend and colleague, Dr. John A.E. Plump, sang several songs with deep meaning in the Black community. He also performed “Ol’ Man River,” noting that the great Paul Robeson had sung the song in the church many decades earlier.

Plump is a graduate of Alcorn State University, where he studied voice with a concentration in classical music and contemporary opera.

Take a moment to listen to this powerful performance.

Old pink house in Natchez, Mississippi, is now home to The Legacy of Madison interpretive center

 The Legacy of Madison offers immersive look at under-told history of Natchez

Brittany Bell and her mother, Bettye Bell, are the co-owners of The Legacy of Madison, a historic home transformed into an interpretive center dedicated to sharing Natchez’s under-told history. 

Through immersive storytelling, music, cultural experiences, and traditional soul food, The Legacy of Madison is helping broaden how residents and visitors experience and understand the city’s rich heritage.

 For more information, call 601-334-4104.

Legacy of Madison offers immersive look at Natchez's under-told history

New interpretive center highlights African American history, music legacy, and youth development

By Roscoe Barnes III

The Natchez Democrat

June 16, 2026

Bettye Bell, center, and her daughter, Brittany Bell Surratt, recently opened The Legacy of Madison to share Natchez’s history. They are pictured with Brittany’s daughter, Chozyn Channell Bell. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- A long-vacant pink house on the corner of Madison and N. Dr. M.L. King streets has been reborn as The Legacy of Madison, a new tourism attraction and interpretive center dedicated to sharing the untold and under-told history of Natchez.

 

The site, located at 516 N. Dr. M.L. King St., is co-owned and managed by retired educator Bettye Bell and her daughter, Brittany Bell Surratt. The two said the new venture will provide a cultural and educational experience for residents and visitors.
 
It provides a quiet, welcoming environment where visitors can discuss Natchez history over coffee, tea, and traditional tea cakes, said Bettye. The experience also includes a full three-course meal.
 
“Natchez has a lot of untold and under-told history,” said Brittany. “While Mississippi is often associated with the blues, Natchez has made significant contributions to jazz and hip-hop as well.”
 
She said much attention has focused on antebellum homes and the Civil War, while African American history remains underrepresented.
 
“We want to tell those stories,” Brittany said.
 
Bettye agreed. "We look forward to sharing how African Americans helped build Natchez and went on to make nationally and internationally recognized contributions," she said.
 
Brittany’s vision for the house stems from her love of history, literature, and travel. “I meet people from all around the world. When they visit Natchez, they’ve only learned one side of Natchez’s history.”
 
The mother-daughter team hopes to inspire local youth. “The historic property serves as both a tourism destination and a training center designed to prepare local youth for careers in hospitality and tourism,” Bettye said. “Young people can develop customer service, public speaking, cultural awareness, and leadership skills while gaining firsthand experience.”
 
The team believes Natchez has important stories that deserve greater attention. Among those stories is the connection between rapper Nas and Natchez through his father, world-renowned jazz musician Olu Dara Jones, who was born and raised in the city.
 
“That is an under-told story and key contribution to music history,” Brittany said. She noted Natchez has deep-rooted music contributions to national music history that goes beyond the blues.
 
Another celebrity with Natchez ties is actress Yara Sayeh Shahidi, best known for her role on the ABC sitcom, “Black-ish,” Brittany said.

The pink house at the corner of N. Dr. M.L. King and Madison streets is now home to The Legacy of Madison, an interpretive center dedicated to sharing Natchez's untold and under-told history. (Click on image to enlarge.)

This site features four rooms that provide visitors with an immersive experience through story-telling, music, historical artifacts, and cultural displays.

 

The interpretive center highlights a range of notable figures, including Greg Iles, Hiram Rhodes Revels, John R. Lynch, Robert H. Wood, Richard Wright, Ellen Douglas, Alexander O’Neal, Geeshie Wiley, Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders, Judge Mary Lee Davis Toles, Dr. Albert Woods Dumas Sr., and others.
 
Themes include such topics as Reconstruction era leadership, African American political history, Natchez writers and authors, music legends, cultural contributors, educational trailblazers, and local “firsts” in leadership.
 
Each tour concludes with a Southern soul food experience inspired by traditions of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
 
The house was built in the late Queen Anne style between 1901 and 1904, according to Mimi Miller, executive director emerita of the Historic Natchez Foundation.
 
Brittany purchased the house from Alvin Garrison, mayor of Ferriday.  It was previously owned by Frederick David Todd, whose father, Dr. J.R. Todd Jr., was a respected community leader and historian known for his contributions to healthcare and civil rights.
 
Tours are available Friday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $55 for adults and $25 for children ages six and older.
 
Group tours are available by reservation with a minimum of 12 people.
 
For more information, call 601-334-4104.
 

VIDEO: Armand Saiia is ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June!

Come meet Armand in person and view his stunning sculptures and paintings this Saturday, June 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the ArtsNatchez Gallery, 425 Main St.

In this video, Armand shares insights into his sculptures and paintings.

Sculptor Armand Saiia Named ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June

Reception set for Saturday, June 13, in downtown Natchez, Mississippi

by Mississippi Monitor | Jun 5, 2026 | Capital/River
By Roscoe Barnes III

Armand Saiia, ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June, displays photographs of his sculptures at the gallery. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Sculptor Armand Saiia says he’s been a “lone wolf” in the world of art, and it’s a status he holds with pride.

During the 1960s, when people were partying and many were protesting the Vietnam War, Saiia found peace in the arts. “My refuge was the museum, and I still exist in that space,” he says, adding that art springs from a sense of integrity.
 
“Art is the most honest thing a person can do,” he explains. “It’s like dancing naked in front of people -- all the time. I just feel that honesty is the best policy. We live in a time where things are not very honest.”
 
Saiia has been named ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for June, and the public is invited to view his latest work at the gallery on Saturday, June 13, at 425 Main St. His reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
 
Saiia’s exhibition will include medium-sized and small sculptures, as well as paintings he has completed over the past eight months. He describes his paintings as a blend of realism and abstraction. Saiia signed the series "Fortunate Thomas," combining his given name, Fortunato, with the surname of his late friend Joan Thomas, who painted the backgrounds featured in the works.
 
“The work is collaborative. That’s one of the distinctive aspects of this show.”

Sculptor Armand Saiia, ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June, poses with his large sculpture “Subjugation” in front of the gallery. The mixed-media work features wood carved to resemble bone, forged metal, chains, and solar-powered lighting. (Click on image to enlarge.)

As with any good artist, each piece of Saiia’s work tells a story. For instance, one of his larger sculptures is designed with a log that resembles a large bone on one side and stacked metal and chains resembling anchors on the other. He calls it “Subjugation,” a work that reflects themes of suffering.

 
Discovering Art
 
Saiia, who is of Sicilian descent, grew up in Buffalo, New York. Although he has lived “all over the country,” he says, he absolutely loves his hometown. “I’m a proud Buffalonian,” he says.
 
It was in Buffalo that Saiia discovered his love for art.
 
Saiia attended McKinley High School in Buffalo, where he trained to become a commercial art director.
 
Saiia says he was not only a good student but also among the top students in his class. “I started doing sculpture out of a 2,000-pound log. As a kid, I used to make snow sculptures, igloos, and stuff. That was my calling. I fell in love with shapes, spaces, and forms.”

Sculptor Armand Saiia poses with his large bone-like sculpture “#2 Wing Section” at ArtsNatchez Gallery in downtown Natchez. (Click on image to enlarge)

While Saiia enjoys drawing and painting, he is first and foremost a sculptor. “I draw well, but up until eight months ago, I hadn’t painted since college.”

 
Saiia graduated from Buffalo State Teachers College, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture.
 
Saiia credits much of his artistic development to time spent at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. After winning a workshop scholarship around the age of 10, he became a familiar face at the museum and spent countless hours studying the works of abstract artists.
 
“The security guards got to know me. They let me hang out in the art museum unsupervised. From age of 10 until I went to college, I would hang out with the works of abstract artists.”
 
Discovering Natchez
 
Saiia moved to Natchez about two years ago after living in Baton Rouge.
 
“I was familiar with Natchez,” he says. “I love history, and Natchez is like the birthplace of everything in the South.”
 
Saiia found a home at a good price that provided adequate space for his studio and outdoor garden, where he grows fruits and vegetables. Canning vegetables is one of his favorite pastimes.
 
Saiia was particularly pleased to find that his home is only minutes from the Blues Highway. “Blues is my favorite thing,” he says. “It touches my soul and is very honest. I’m happy to be where I am, and I’m happy to be working. There’s so much to discover here.”
 
Saiia says he’s excited about the upcoming reception, where the public can see his creations. He views the show in part as an introduction of himself to the Natchez area.

Artist Armand Saiia with his paintings on display at ArtsNatchez Gallery. (Click on image to enlarge.)

A quick review of his collection shows multiple sculptures with chains, which he admits is a recurring element in his work because of what they represent.

Saiia also likes working with old, forged metal. One of his creations, titled "Jack the Humorist," incorporates the car jack from a Model T Ford mounted on a wheel hub and stone base. The piece also features a skull cast in plaster.
 
An overview of his work over the years may be summed up in the title of his popular series, “Steel, Stone and Bones.” As with the chains, he has used creative ways to sculpt wood into structures that look and feel like actual bones.
 
Saiia believes he has spent a lifetime creating art because it is what he was meant to do.
 
“I can’t do anything else,” he says. “I wanted to be a doctor but knew I’d never fit. I’d rather hold tight to my poetic license.”
 
The gallery is open daily at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.

Armand Saiia displays a photograph of his sculpture “Jack the Humorist,” which incorporates a Model T Ford car jack, wheel hub, stone base, and a plaster skull.

Chicago, hands off Hound Dog Taylor!

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, May 3, 2026, page 4A) 

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning
 
Chicago, hands off Hound Dog Taylor! 
 
By Brandon McCranie

Attention citizens, government officials, and tourists alike: The City of Natchez has been robbed, and nobody’s even noticed.

All the way up in Chicago, they’re celebrating and honoring something they have no claim to. They stole a dog — a Hound Dog, to be more specific.

Now, I’m not talking about the kind of hound dog with long, floppy ears. No sir, this is a very special kind of hound dog. What makes him special? All sorts of things. But here’s the problem: Chicago is running around, acting all high and mighty like they have some kind of claim to this music legend. He’s even an inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame.

I guess I can’t blame them. But what really makes Hound Dog Taylor special to me — and I mean really, really special — is the fact that he was born right here in little old Natchez. That’s right, a Natchez Native Son.

Hound Dog Taylor was born here in 1915… or maybe 1917. It depends on who you ask. He was known for trying to throw folks off his trail. Imagine that. A hound dog trying to keep folks off HIS trail for a change. He even told interviewers he was born in Lounder, Mississippi. Y’all, there ain’t no such town, city, village, or borough in Mississippi.
 
There’s a whole lot of unknowns when it comes to Mr. Taylor, but here are a few facts, just so you understand a little bit about the man and the incredible life he lived. He earned the name Hound Dog because his friends said he was “always on the hunt!” On the hunt for what? Why, the ladies, of course! He was a notorious ladies' man.

In fact, that’s why he left us. It’s always a woman, ain’t it? The story goes that he was romantically involved with a white girl, the news of which was not well received by a group of fellas who scampered around in white sheets and pointy hats. One night, those fellas put on their silly-looking outfits and went to Hound Dog’s house. They even put a big wooden cross in his front yard. I don’t believe they were planning to have a Bible study, as they set that big cross on fire.
 
I guess Hound Dog didn’t feel much like company that night because he slipped out his back door, hid in a ditch all night, decided he was done with Mississippi for good, and joined the Great Migration north.
 
When he got to Chicago, he realized he’d left his piano all the way back down south. Instead of going back to get it, he got himself a cheap guitar and a blown-out Sears amplifier. He turned the volume ALL the way up and started banging on that thing with a tempo and rhythm as loud and as fast as the train that carried him up to his new home. The people there heard him and started tapping their feet and clapping their hands.

Before you knew it, just about everyone in Chicago was dancing to the music of Theodore Roosevelt Taylor…the Hound Dog. And that’s the truth.

Ain’t that something? Chicago may have made the legend, but Natchez made the man. I think Natchez, and Mississippi as a whole, owe the man a long-overdue, restorative, karmic debt.
Along with Dr. Roscoe Barnes III and Visit Natchez, I’m leading the effort to have a Mississippi Blues Trail marker erected here in Natchez in Hound Dog’s honor. It’s the very least we can do, the way I see it. He deserves to be recognized and remembered as another reason there’s no place like Natchez, and also as a reminder of our city’s unique and sometimes indefensible past.

I hope you enjoyed learning just a little bit about Hound Dog Taylor. There’s way too much to put in a newspaper article. So, I’m writing a book. Coming soon: Six Finger Blues: The Almost True Story of Hound Dog Taylor by Brandon McCranie.
 -------
BRANDON MCCRANIE is a Natchez resident.

Natchez, Vidalia observe Memorial Day with parade, new historical marker

by Mississippi Monitor | May 28, 2026 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Hundreds of participants marched across the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge on Monday, May 25, 2026, traveling from Vidalia, Louisiana, to Natchez National Cemetery for the annual Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade. Photo by William Terrell/The Bluff City Post (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Several hundred people crossed the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge under cloudy skies Monday, May 25, traveling from Vidalia, Louisiana, to Natchez National Cemetery in observance of the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade. The parade, which began in the late 1800s, spans a four-mile route and is one of the oldest continuous Memorial Day traditions in the United States.

 
During a brief stop at the Natchez Visitor Center on the east side of the bridge, a historical marker commemorating the parade was unveiled across the street at 639 S. Canal St., in front of the Holiday Inn Express.
 
Laura Ann Jackson, chair of the Natchez parade committee, said she was elated by the day’s ceremonies and deeply moved by the unveiling of the new marker, acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
 
“We are proud to honor all of our brave men and women who have served — and continue to serve — in the U.S. military, and we are especially grateful to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” Jackson said. “With the unveiling of ‘The 30th of May Parade’ historical marker, we also recognize the citizens of Vidalia, Louisiana, and Natchez who have participated in this historic parade since the late 1800s.”
 

“The 30th of May Parade” historical marker was unveiled on May 25, 2026, at 639 S. Canal St. in Natchez, to commemorate the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade, one of the oldest continuous Memorial Day traditions in the United States. Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

The unveiling ceremony featured remarks from Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson; Vidalia Alderman Robert Gardner, who is working to secure a historical marker for Vidalia; Holiday Inn Express General Manager Annette Sharp, who authorized installation of the marker on the hotel’s property; and retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn R. Powers, speaker for the 11 a.m. ceremony at the cemetery. Powers serves as deputy under secretary for Field Programs and Cemetery Operations at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration.

 
Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez, welcomed attendees. He also recognized Jackson for her many years of leadership and James Theres, producer of “The 30th of May” film. Barnes said the idea for the marker originated with Theres.
 
Gibson praised the participants, noting they have faithfully marched in the parade for 160 years.
 
“Today, we honor all who have served our country, and we honor all who have given their lives,” he said. “It is fitting that today we reveal this great marker that, now and for many years to come, will tell the story of the Memorial Day Parade, and it will tell the story of our faithfulness as a community, black, white, yellow, red, and brown. It doesn’t matter.”
 
Over the many decades of its existence, the parade has grown in size and diversity, Gibson said.
 
“We are all Americans, and today we all bleed the same blood, we all pray to the same Father, and we all celebrate a freedom that has been won for us and earned for us, thanks to our veterans who have served,” Gibson said.
 
Gardner, whose mother, Sheila Trust Gardner, chairs the Vidalia parade committee, reminded the audience of the parade’s beginnings, saying, “The origin of the parade was to honor our colored servicemen, both alive and dead. The parade carries with it a heavy burden.”
 

Annette Sharp, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express, authorized the installation of the “The 30th of May Parade” historical marker on the hotel’s property at 639 S. Canal St. in Natchez. The marker was unveiled on May 25, 2026. Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

Sharp, representing the Holiday Inn Express, also reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day. She said the hotel was honored to be part of the day’s ceremony.

 
“When Dr. Roscoe Barnes first contacted me about placing this marker here, I was so excited. He did not have to ask me twice,” she said.
 
Sharp highlighted the importance of the occasion: “Memorial Day is more than just the beginning of summer; it is a day of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude,” she said. “This marker stands not only as a record of the past, but as a promise to the future that the stories of courage, duty, and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
 
Powers described the parade as a “fantastic tradition” for Memorial Day. “This ceremony here and the one at our Natchez National Cemetery are so important because of this longstanding tradition, which, when you think about it, is so unique and amazing. Congratulations on the marker!” he said.
 
At the cemetery, Charlotte Taylor, assistant director of the Mississippi National Cemetery Complex at Natchez, told the audience that Memorial Day is not simply a date on the calendar, but a solemn promise. “It is a promise that we will remember the fallen, not just in words, but in the way we live our lives -- with gratitude, with purpose, and with a commitment to the ideas they fought to protect,” Taylor said.
 
In his remarks as guest speaker, Powers commented on the nation’s 250th anniversary of its founding.
 
“A quarter millennium after the Declaration of Independence, we pause to reflect on the men and women who safeguarded its promises across generations,” he said. Although the American Revolution was a long struggle, “for over 250 years, American patriots have been there to protect our freedom and our way of life,” he added.
 

Powers said the fight for freedom never ends, adding, “If our nation is to survive for another 250 years, we will need the same caliber of brave service members who have laid everything on the line to keep our country strong.”

See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/natchez-vidalia-observe-memorial-day-with-parade-new-historical-marker/

Historical marker commemorating the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade in Natchez, Miss.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Dr. Roscoe Barnes III is pictured here with Annette Sharp, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express. She authorized the installation of the marker on the hotel property at 639 S. Canal St. We unveiled the marker this morning in honor of the Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade.

(Click on image to enlarge.)