New panels at Natchez National Historical Park preserve stories of the enslaved

I enjoyed my visit with KNOE 8 News reporter Shahid Evans!

See video at this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BfiAfsapn/

New marker will honor Civil Rights leader George Metcalfe

Natchez will dedicate a historical marker Aug. 27, 2026, honoring NAACP leader George Metcalfe at the site of the 1965 Ku Klux Klan bombing that seriously injured him.

Staff Reports
The Natchez Democrat

George Metcalfe. Photo courtesy of Ed Pincus Film Collection Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ – Natchez will unveil a Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) historical marker honoring George Metcalfe, a World War II veteran and former president of the Natchez branch of the NAACP whose leadership helped advance the local civil rights movement.

The marker will be dedicated on Aug. 27, 2026, during a public ceremony tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. near the triangular area formed by Kelly Avenue, Brenham Avenue and South Concord Avenue near the former Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company, where Metcalfe was seriously injured in a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1965. Dr. Robert James, president of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP, will serve as keynote speaker, with remarks from Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, president of the Natchez NAACP. The event is free and open to the public.

“For too long, essential chapters of our city's history have gone unrecognized in the public eye,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “By dedicating this marker to George Metcalfe and his courage in the fight for civil rights, we take another vital step forward in telling our city's complete and honest story. His unwavering determination in the face of profound personal danger paved the way for progress in Natchez and for citizens formally ill-treated to be treated with respect. Facing our past with clarity ensures we build a stronger, more united future together.”

During his tenure as president of the Natchez NAACP, Metcalfe led voter registration efforts that added more than 8,000 Black residents to the local voter rolls. He also worked alongside other civil rights leaders to advocate for desegregation, equal employment opportunities, ending police brutality and greater political representation for Black residents.

The marker’s location was intentionally selected as it recognizes the site of the Aug. 27, 1965, bombing, where a bomb hidden inside Metcalfe's car exploded after he finished his shift at Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company. Although he survived the attack, he sustained serious injuries, and no one was ever charged in connection with the bombing.

The bombing prompted protest rallies, marches and boycotts throughout the community. In the weeks that followed, the Natchez chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice was established to help protect Black residents and civil rights workers, and by the end of 1965, the City of Natchez had agreed to demands presented by the NAACP.

“George Metcalfe's courage and leadership helped shape the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez,” says Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez and immediate past president of the Mississippi Historical Society. “By placing this marker at the site of the bombing, we are preserving an important chapter of our history and ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made in the pursuit of equality.”

The new marker builds on ongoing efforts to preserve and interpret Natchez's African American and Civil Rights history through public markers, educational initiatives and community-led storytelling.

Additional details about the dedication ceremony and related programming will be announced closer to the event.

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley: Defender and Pioneer of Black History Programs in Natchez, Mississippi

He is now featured in Mississippi History Now
 
by Roscoe Barnes III
Mississippi History Now
August 2026
 

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley is pictured in this 2014 tintype photo wearing a 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery uniform at the 150th anniversary of the Fort Pillow Massacre in Tennessee, which occurred on April 12, 1864. Photo courtesy of Ser Boxley (Click on image to enlarge.)

 

More than anyone else, Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley has consistently and vigorously fought for the recognition of Natchez’s African American history, and his impact, according to writers and historians, is unmistakable.

Boxley has been a warrior for justice and human rights for most of his life. He has established himself as an author, civil rights activist, and historian of the African American history of Natchez.

In the book, The Deepest South of All (Simon & Schuster, 2020), Richard Grant describes him as having “the air of a warrior… and his battlefield was the intersection of his history, memory, and tourism.”

During the 1960s, after spending many years working for justice and other causes in California, Boxley joined the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice, an organization that provided armed protection for the Black community and civil rights workers against the Ku Klux Klan. Among his various activities, Boxley assisted the Deacons with a fundraising campaign in California that allowed them to purchase firearms and acquire other resources for the struggle in Natchez.

See the full article at this link: https://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/ser-seshsh-ab-heter-c-m-boxley-defender-and-pioneer-black-history-programs-natchez

Forks of the Road features new history exhibits

Natchez National Historical Park has added new panels at the Forks of the Road slave market site, using U.S. Colored Troops pension records to share stories of enslaved people and the market’s destruction.

By Roscoe Barnes III 

The Natchez Democrat

August 7, 2026

Jeff Mansell, lead historian at Natchez National Historical Park, stands next to the new location sign at the Forks of the Road site. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Natchez National Historical Park has installed new interpretive wayside panels at the Forks of the Road slave market site. Drawing on U.S. Colored Troops pension records, the panels share the stories of formerly enslaved people recruited there between 1863 and 1865 and recount how African American soldiers helped dismantle the slave market structures to construct army barracks.

 
The panels replace earlier displays that had deteriorated. The new panels were installed in July 2026, shortly before the Julyteenth celebration.
 
A new, larger, identity sign featuring the National Park Service arrowhead now stands on the south side of the site.
 
Jeff Mansell, historian for the Natchez National Historical Park, said the new content was drawn directly from the pension applications filed by former U.S. Colored Troops veterans, their widows, and their children.
 
“Most of them specifically reference the Forks of the Road - either being trafficked there, or visiting their husband, son or veteran there in the regimental barracks or the hospital which were located there on the site,” Mansell said. “We intentionally looked for records that specifically mentioned the Forks of the Road. We wanted to highlight experiences that took place on the site itself.”
 
Mansell drafted the text on all the panels. Stephanie Metzler, graphic designer with the Southeast Region of the National Park Service, created the background images for the wayside panels.
 
Wayside panels
 
One panel, “Pressing Their Claim,” uses pension records to tell the heart-felt story of Elzira Bright:
 
“I was born in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky and I belonged to a man named Allen Anderson. My father was Hickman Hickenbottem and my mother was Minerva and we all belonged to the same man. I was sold to a negro trader when I was 19 years old and he brought me to Natchez with a gang of a hundred head and I was sold at the forks of the road to Faultneroy of Jefferson County and lived on his place until the war came.
 
“His place was counted 16 miles from Natchez, Mississippi. Allen Lewis came from Boyle County, Ky. And the same trader, Dick White, brought us down in the same gang. I was taken from Richmond to Lexington, Ky. And there I met up with Allen Lewis and we were brought to Natchez together and sold to Frank Faultneroy and taken to his place in the Church Hill community.”
 
Mansell noted: “Elzira Bright’s account is similar to many who were trafficked in the domestic slave trade. A trader transported her from Kentucky to Natchez alongside a group of one hundred people, including her future husband. Though her story represents countless others sold at the Forks of the Road market, Elzira Bright stands apart because we know her name and fate.”
 
Bright was approved to receive her husband’s pension in 1903.
 
The earlier panels were created by Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley and the Friends of the Forks of the Road. Mansell said the National Park Service initially funded the site’s large four-panel kiosk in 2005, which it has now refurbished.
 
Mansell said the new wayside panels were funded by the park with “generous assistance” from its philanthropic partners: the National Park Foundation and the Trust for Public Land.
 
These partners also helped the park acquire Freedom Hall, formerly the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at 105 Devereaux Drive on the east side of the Forks of the Road site. On July 12, 2026, the park held its first program at the site that featured a presentation by Mansell titled, “Julyteenth: When Freedom Came to Natchez.”
 
“Freedom Hall will eventually serve as the visitor contact station at the site, where a ranger or guide will be there,” Mansell said. “We hope to have a film, and there will be more extensive exhibits on site for visitors to experience.”

Lead Historian Jeff Mansell points to a historic photograph featured on a new interpretive panel in the free-standing kiosk at the Forks of the Road site. (Click on image to enlarge.)

 

Free-standing kiosk
 
Other new features include history panels displayed in the free-standing kiosk. One section, titled, “Leveled to the Ground,” describes how the slave market site came to an end.
 
The panel notes:
 
“The last sales at the Forks happened in early 1863, just months before the U.S. Army occupied Natchez that July. The arrival of Federal troops brought freedom to the tens of thousands of enslaved people in the Natchez District. Freedpeople (persons recently released from slavery) flocked into town from the surrounding countryside. Many settled here at the Forks near an encampment of African American soldiers, known as the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT).
 
“In the fall, soldiers stationed in Natchez were given orders to tear down the slave pens at Forks of the Road. Men of the newly created 58th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment willingly joined the efforts. With some poetic justice, African American soldiers who had previously been enslaved and sold as property at Forks of the Road carried out the physical destruction of the slave market.”
 
The panel includes the image of a letter published in the Milwaukee Sentinel describing the event.
 
The Forks of the Road was the second largest slave market in the Deep South during the antebellum period. The first part of the 18-acre site was donated to the National Park Service in 2021. Mansell said plans for the site’s long-term development are underway, though no final decisions have been made. He said land acquisition is continuing.
 

Armand Saiia featured in Mississippi Business Journal

(Click on image to enlarge.)

I'm happy to congratulate my friend, Armand, on being featured in the August 2026 issue of the Mississippi Business Journal! He has an impressive two-page spread. Well deserved! 

VIDEO: Dr. Robert Field Jr., veterinarian-turned wildlife photographer, is ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for August!

Join us this Saturday, August 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the ArtsNatchez Gallery, 425 Main Street, to meet Robert in person and view his stunning wildlife photography.

In this short video, Robert talks about his 25-year hobby behind the camera.

Enjoy the video, then come see the photographs for yourself!

Veterinarian-turned wildlife photographer named ArtsNatchez Artist of the Month

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Aug 5, 2026 | 12:49 PM

Dr. Robert Field Jr., ArtsNatchez's Artist of the Month for August, displays one of his featured wildlife photographs depicting a great egret returning to the nest as her chicks await. The image is among several of Field's photographs on display at the ArtsNatchez Gallery in downtown Natchez. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Dr. Robert Field Jr. is a veterinarian-turned-wildlife photographer whose love of nature and photography has landed him in some dangerous places.

One late afternoon during the early fall of 2017, Field was near his home in Jonesville, Louisiana, and walking through thick brush with his focus on a horned owl.
“I had him in my sights,” he recalled.

Then he took a step and felt something beneath his foot. He looked down and saw a copperhead. He jumped. “I tried to get as much air as I could,” he said, grinning.

The snake crawled away without striking.

Field said he’s found himself too close for comfort with snakes about 10 times.

“I’ve been lucky,” he said, noting he wears snake boots for protection. “This happens a lot when I’m trying to shoot birds because I’m looking up in trees, and I tend to not look at the ground as much as I need to. Copperheads are the hardest (to see) because they’re camouflaged.”

Field is ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for August. His photography will be on display Saturday, August 8, at the gallery at 425 Main St. He will greet visitors during a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Field is a resident of Jonesville, Louisiana. Before retiring, he practiced veterinary medicine for 35 years. Photography has been his hobby for 25 years.

A graduate of Delta State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, Field completed his doctorate at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Love of nature

Field said his photography is “absolutely” informed by his training as a veterinarian.

Over the years, he kept a log on the migration of birds. “In this context, behavioral knowledge is more important than anatomical knowledge,” he said. “You get into a rhythm with them, and you learn what they tolerate in terms of noise and space when you’re in their habitat.”

Field’s interest in the camera began with his two children. He would take them out into nature and different wildlife reserves. He used his camera to document their experiences, and it eventually turned into a hobby. His cameras of choice are the Nikon D850 and D500.

Field’s exhibition will feature wildlife photographs from across the region, including scenes from Gilliard Lake in St. Catherine Creek, an alligator resting on a log, birds in several rookeries, a silhouette at Catahoula Lake in Louisiana, and a pileated woodpecker feeding its young.

Field said some of the photos were taken near his home in Jonesville, Louisiana, such as the alligator and butterflies. Included in the exhibit is a dramatic photograph of young ospreys leaving the nest in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

“I travel to different places at different times of the year when the animals are more prevalent to photograph,” Field said. “What I enjoy most is that I get to see and experience much more than what I photograph. Just the peace and serenity from just getting out in nature. Photography is the second-hand perk from the process. I grew up in nature, out in the woods.”

Half million ducks

One of Field’s favorite places to photograph is Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge during the winter, when roughly half a million ducks gather there. The bald eagles migrate down with the ducks and hunt them, he said.

“When you see a large group of the ducks flying, they just explode, and you look above them, there are bald eagles, and they’re hunting,” he said.

Field said the main photo in his display will be of the ducks flying.

Still, Field noted, wildlife photography can be both dangerous and challenging.

“As a photographer, you tend to look up or out. I had a few close calls with snakes. The alligators are not as aggressive as people think, if you keep a decent distance. I keep my eye on the big ones. Don’t let them get too close.”

As for challenges, weather is an issue. “You just never know what to expect when you go out in nature. I grew up hunting, but this is a lot harder than hunting. You can get the perfect shot of something, but you still have to get the lighting right and the angle right,” Field said.

Bald eagles

When Field thinks about the early days of his photography, he’s reminded of an incident with his children when he urged them to look up at some bald eagles nearby.

“We were out at the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge, and there were some bald eagles. They locked talons and were falling through the sky until they almost hit the ground. That’s one of their mating rituals.

Field’s children were eight and six, and they were sword fighting with sticks. Field yelled, “Look, look, you will probably never see this again!”

But instead of looking up at the eagles, his daughter, Bona, cried, “Daddy, Ben just hit me with a stick!”Interestingly, children are drawn to Field’s work. “Most of the children run to the alligator picture,” he said. “They are fascinated with it. People from other countries are fascinated with American alligators.”

Field said he has always tried to encourage young people to go out into nature and get away from their mobile devices.

ArtsNatchez Gallery is open daily at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.

 

Natchez’s Greg Iles and Ser Boxley featured in Mississippi Encyclopedia

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Jul 31, 2026 | 1:28 PM

Author Greg Iles, left, and historian and preservationist Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C.M. Boxley, both of Natchez, are featured in the Mississippi Encyclopedia. Photos courtesy of Mississippi Encyclopedia. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Greg Iles and Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley, both of Natchez, are featured in the Mississippi Encyclopedia, and their entries are spotlighted on the publication’s homepage.

Iles was a New York Times bestselling author whose acclaimed thrillers and mysteries were often set in and around Natchez. His works include “The Quiet Game,” “Turning Angel,” “The Devil’s Punchbowl,” “Natchez Burning,” and “Southern Man,” among others.

Iles was a friend and admirer of Stanley Nelson, the longtime editor of the Concordia Sentinel and author of “Devils Walking,” a book chronicling Ku Klux Klan violence in Southwest Mississippi during the 1960s. Iles drew inspiration from Nelson’s career in journalism.

Following Nelson’s death on June 5, 2025, at age 69, Iles published a moving tribute describing him as a “genuine hero” who always did the right thing regardless of fear or favor. Iles wrote that Nelson’s “brave and tireless work” inspired him to model Henry Sexton, the heroic journalist in his Natchez trilogy, after Nelson.

Iles won the 2015 Barry Award for Best Novel for “Natchez Burning” and received the Mississippi Author Award for Fiction for his 1995 thriller “Black Cross.”

Iles died of cancer on August 15, 2025. He was 65. His Mississippi Encyclopedia entry was written by Riley Moran of Tampa, Florida.

Boxley is a local historian, preservationist, and civil rights activist who worked with the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

He serves as coordinator of the Friends of the Forks of the Road Society and is known for his decades-long efforts to promote and preserve the history of the Forks of the Road slave market at 105 Liberty Road. The site, now managed by the National Park Service, was once the second-largest slave market in the Deep South.

In March 2026, Boxley donated his Forks of the Road exhibition to the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning at Alcorn State University, Lorman Campus.

That same month, the Natchez Historical Society honored him with its Historic Preservation Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to historic preservation or the study of history in the Natchez area.

Boxley’s Mississippi Encyclopedia entry was written by Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

The Mississippi Encyclopedia is published by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi and has been funded by the Mississippi Humanities Council.

The entries on Iles and Boxley may be viewed at https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/

 

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.