Farewell to Anne Moody: A word from the town of Centreville, Miss.

Mayor Larry Lee's presentation at 2015 memorial service

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

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Mayor Larry Lee

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Anne Moody, the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi, died on February 5, 2015, at the age of 74. When news of her passing was reported, her local community joined people throughout the United States in mourning her death. Family, friends, church leaders, and people with ties to the civil rights movement, came out to pay their respects. They gathered for a Memorial Celebration on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at the Homochitto Association Development Center in Gloster, Miss. It was during this time that Mayor Larry Lee of Centreville, Miss., presented an official resolution in honor of Moody.

Centreville, a small town in southwest Mississippi, was Moody’s hometown. It is located in Wilkinson County. When Moody died, she was living in Gloster, which is located only a few miles from Centreville, in Amite County.

Lee, the first African American to become mayor of Centreville, has said that Moody and other civil rights workers paved the way for his achievement as an elected official. Lee served as mayor of Centreville from 2009 to 2017.

Lee once described Moody as a strong woman who was dedicated to the cause of helping others. He said she made many sacrifices in order to make a difference. “She fought for a good cause and she put her life on the line in the struggle for freedom and civil rights,” he said.

Below is the resolution he presented at Moody’s memorial service.

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RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Anne Moody was born in the Centreville, Mississippi area on September 15, 1940; and,

WHEREAS, she was educated in the public schools and left to attend Natchez Junior College and Tougaloo College, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1964; and,

WHEREAS, she was involved in the promotion of civil rights during the 1960’s being associated with the Congress of Racial Equality and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and,

WHEREAS, she was an award winning author who wrote Coming of Age in Mississippi, which was published in 1968; and,

WHEREAS, she loved working with young children and teenagers pointing out to them the value of a good education; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen do hereby commend, recognize and honor Anne Moody for her outstanding service to humanity, by and through her outstanding career in helping others.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Centreville.

RESOLVED, this the 10th day of February, 2015, upon unanimous vote of all Aldermen present. 

                                                                                                   Town of Centreville, Mississippi

By: Larry J. Lee, Mayor

Attest:

Michelle Singleton, Clerk

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Would you like to know more about Anne Moody?

Visit the Anne Moody page here!

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For more information: 

See the Anne Moody page here.

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

Letter of Thanks to Our Local Community

Showing Gratitude for the Support of the Anne Moody Day Celebration

#AnneMoody

On Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, the community of Centreville and the citizens of Amite and Wilkinson Counties had the privilege of making history by participating in the first-ever Anne Moody Day Celebration. The event was held to honor civil rights pioneer Anne Moody, author of Coming of Age in Mississippi, who grew up in Centreville. It was organized by the Anne Moody History Project (AMHP) of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) and the Centreville Board of Aldermen.

About 70 people watched as town officials presented a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and unveiled the Anne Moody Street sign. It was truly a memorable occasion.

On behalf of Warden Jody Bradley, I want to thank everyone who came out to support this historic event, which would not have been possible without the support of the Centreville Board of Aldermen. We are especially grateful to the board for the support of Aldermen John “Coach” Moore and David Walker, Alderwoman Felicia Williams, former Mayor Larry Lee, Deputy Clerk Nicole VanNorman, and street maintenance employees Lorenzo Parker and Chaebas Anderson.

We are also thankful to the Wilkinson County Board of Supervisors for their support and to Supervisor Venton “Bubba” McNabb and Chancery Clerk Thomas Tolliver for their presence at the event. Mr. McNabb and Mr. Tolliver have been pillars of encouragement from day one of this community service project which started in March this year with the staff of WCCF.

We were honored to have the participation of Moody’s son, Sasha Straus; her siblings, Fred Moody Jr., Adline Moody and Ralph Jefferson; and other family members. We were very much pleased to see representatives of the Mississippi Library Commission, who are planning a short film on the literary contributions of Anne Moody.

Mr. David Dreyer, a volunteer curator and researcher, came as a representative of the African American Museum in Natchez. He brought with him a portrait of Anne Moody taken during her time as a student at Natchez Junior College. He displayed the portrait during the ceremony. The Rev. LeReginald Jones, a local pastor, assisted us with the opening prayer during the ceremony.

A special debt of gratitude is owed to Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey and the staff of WCCF who played a major role in organizing the event, which was held on Moody’s birthday. The staff and others in attendance wore purple, Moody’s favorite color, or a purple ribbon.

In presenting this letter of gratitude, we want to also acknowledge AMHP members Emma Taplin, Ruby Dixon and LaVern Taylor, who worked diligently for several months to make this ceremony a reality. Several WCCF staff also participated in the ceremony, including Mr. Keith O’Banion, Ms. Jasmine Morris, and Ms. Felicia Williams. Mr. Branton Lewis assisted with photography.

And last, but not least, we offer special thanks to Mr. Andy Lewis and The Woodville Republican for their excellent coverage of the Anne Moody ceremony. Mr. Lewis’ coverage of this event was nothing short of exceptional and we take pride in calling his paper “our hometown paper.”

As a staff member of WCCF and chairman of the AMHP, I can say with utmost sincerity that we are grateful to everyone who was involved in any way with this special event to honor Anne Moody. It is our wish that her story will inspire us, and many others, to do our best at making the world a better place to live. May her legacy live on for future generations.

Sincerely,

Chaplain Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

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For stories on the Anne Moody Day Celebration, visit the Anne Moody page here!

  

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This Letter of Thanks appeared as an advertisement on page 3 of
the Oct. 12, 2017 issues of The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.)

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Would you like to know more about Anne Moody?

Use this timeline to follow her life history.

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For more information: 

See the Anne Moody page here.

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

MTC welcomes national news coverage of Anne Moody Day Celebration in Centreville, Miss.

Historic event organized by Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, Centreville officials

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

Note: Mr. Issa Arnita, communications director for Management & Training Corporation (MTC), shared this news on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, on the company website. MTC, which is based in Utah, is a company that focuses on education, training and rehabilitation.

I serve as chaplain at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) in Woodville, Miss., which is privately run by MTC. It is through this prison that the Anne Moody History Project (AMHP) was formed earlier this year with the full support of Warden Jody Bradley. I am grateful to Warden Bradley and Mr. Arnita for their support and recognition of the work we're doing as a community service endeavor to promote and help preserve the legacy of Anne Moody, author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. I'm especially grateful to AMHP members Emma Taplin, Ruby Dixon and LaVern Taylor. -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

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NEWS: Mississippi Hometown Honors Author Of Civil Rights Memoir

http://www.mtctrains.com/news-mississippi-hometown-honors-author-civil-rights-memoir/

Published by the Management & Training Corporation (MTC) on September 21, 2017.

Led by Wilkinson County Correctional Facility Chaplain Roscoe Barnes, a group of MTC staff at the Wilkinson facility in Woodville, Mississippi recently set out to honor a civil-rights activist whose courage and determination had an impact on many people in the South and throughout the world. Anne Moody was honored by Wilkinson staff and the City of Centreville, MS where she was born. The mayor and city council issued a resolution renaming a street in Moody’s name and proclaiming September 15 as “Anne Moody Day”. The story was picked up nationally! Read the article below by the Washington Post.

The Washington Post

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FILE – In this May 28, 1963 file photograph, a group of white people pour sugar, ketchup and mustard over the heads of Tougaloo College student demonstrators at a sit-in demonstration at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Jackson, Miss. Seated at the counter, from left, are Tougaloo College professor John Salter,and students Joan Trumpauer and Anne Moody. Anne Moody, a civil rights activist who wrote about challenging segregation in the South is being honored in her hometown, two years after her death. (Fred Blackwell/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) (Associated Press)

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By Emily Wagster Pettus | AP September 16

JACKSON, Miss. — A civil rights activist who wrote about challenging segregation in the South was honored in her hometown, two years after her death.

About 70 people gathered Friday in the southwestern Mississippi town of Centreville — population 1,680 — to unveil a sign for the newly renamed Anne Moody Street. Moody was born in Centreville on Sept. 15, 1940.

Her memoir, “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” was published in 1968 and is required reading in some schools. It recounts her early life in a poor family and her participation in civil rights activities that put her in danger, including efforts to register black voters.

Roscoe Barnes III, who is chaplain at a prison near Centreville, helped organize the Anne Moody Day commemoration, held on what would have been her 77th birthday. He said her son, Sasha Straus, attended, as did some of her siblings and cousins.

     “Here’s a woman who literally put her life on the line in the fight for freedom and justice,” Barnes told The Associated Press. “We’re here because she was there. She survived threats, beatings, incarcerations.”

On May 28, 1963, Moody was part of an integrated group of students from historically black Tougaloo College who staged a peaceful sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. They had worked with Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers to prepare for the protest.

White high school students, egged on by some adults, dumped ketchup and mustard on the heads of Moody and the other protesters. She wrote that after she and two other black students started praying at the counter, one white man slapped her and another threw her against an adjoining counter. One of the praying students was pulled violently from his seat.

Evers was assassinated outside his Jackson home two weeks after the sit-in.

After Moody graduated from college in 1964, she moved to New York, where she wrote her book. She returned to Mississippi in the mid-1990s but never felt at ease in the state, said one of her sisters, Adline Moody.

Anne Moody had dementia before she died at home in Gloster, Mississippi, in 2015. She was 74.

     Barnes does volunteer work for the Anne Moody History Project, which is based at the privately run prison where he works, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. He said some inmates and have been reading and discussing “Coming of Age in Mississippi” as part of a book group. He said he also gives away copies of the book to people who live in southwestern Mississippi.

“I spoke to a woman in her 40s who grew up in this area,” Barnes said. “She said, ‘Who is Anne Moody?’ That broke my heart.”

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Editor's Note: 

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

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

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

By Roscoe Barnes III

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Resolution for Anne Moody Street

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

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For more information:

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

A Reflection on Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017

By Jasmine Morris

Guest Post -- Copyright © 2017

#AnneMoody

Note: This guest post is a presentation that was given by my friend and colleague, Jasmine Morris, during the Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017. The event, the first of its kind, was held at 12 p.m., on Sept. 15, 2017, in Centreville, Miss. Anne Moody was born on Sept. 15, 1940. She grew up in Centreville, and she passed on Feb. 5, 2015, in Gloster, Miss.

It was during this ceremony that the town of Centreville honored Anne Moody by issuing a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and by renaming Fort Street, Anne Moody Street. The event was organized by the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, Miss., and by the Centreville Board of Aldermen. We were all delighted and more than a little pleased with Morris’ presentation. She delivered it with passion, clarity, and enthusiasm. Below is her reflection of the event and a copy of her Welcome address. Enjoy and share! – Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project 

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A Reflection on Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017

By Jasmine Morris

This was a glorious moment in history and I was proud to be a part of it. Paying homage to Anne Moody was the least that I could have done. I want to thank the committee who came up with this idea and turned it into reality. And I want to challenge you all to research and learn who Anne Moody was and her courage to change a government that she saw fault in.

I remember in high school when my JROTC teacher, Major Golliday, asked us to research Black History icons outside of Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, etc., because to all, these were the norms. Recently, however, I got to learn about a civil rights activist who did just as much as the aforementioned icons, but was rarely mentioned through history. I wish I had known of her legacy before now. But better late than never. Below is the Welcome I presented at the start of the Anne Moody Day ceremony.

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Centreville officials honored civil rights icon Anne Moody on
Sept. 15, 2017, with a street sign bearing her name.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the Anne Moody Day Celebration

Good Evening,

To the city officials, great leaders of this community, family, friends, and all assembled here today.

It brings me great honor to stand before you all and welcome you to this Anne Moody Day Celebration and the unveiling of the new Anne Moody Street sign.

I know many of you have gathered here today in great hopes of an event-filled program to obtain new knowledge, but most of all, to be a witness to a momentous moment in history.

This is a proud occasion, one that I myself and all witnesses standing here today, shall and will remember for a lifetime.

This moment will help you to envision the journey of Anne Moody’s life, her greatest accomplishments, and the legacy she has left behind, but most importantly to recognize Anne for her courageous acts of kindness to bring about change.

I want each of you to feel a warm welcome and a friendly environment. I want you to enjoy yourself, but most of all, I want you to take pleasure and savor this great moment.

After reading Anne Moody’s best-selling book entitled Coming of Age in Mississippi, I would like to close my welcome with a quote stated by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that described Anne to me. And the quote reads, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy.”

THANK YOU!

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Jasmine Morris is a graduate of Alcorn State University. She works as Deputy Warden Secretary at MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.

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For more information: 

See the Anne Moody page here.

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

Anne Moody Day Celebration Set in Centreville, Miss.

Event will be held at 12 p.m., Friday, Sept. 15, 2017

#AnneMoody

From the front page of The Woodville Republican 
(Thursday, August 31, 2017)
Woodville, Mississippi

Special thanks to Editor and Publisher Andy Lewis.

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Anne Moody, native of Centreville, Miss., was a civil rights pioneer and
the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi.

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Editor's Note:

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

Felicia Williams, Anne Moody's cousin, wins seat on Centreville Board of Aldermen

By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.

Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

Copyright© 2017

#AnneMoody

Civil rights pioneer Anne Moody would be proud of her cousin, Felicia Williams, who recently won election in their hometown to serve as a member of the Centreville Board of Aldermen. Williams has said her mother and Moody's mother, "Too Sweet," were the children of two brothers.

As a newly elected official, Williams will serve Ward 1 in her community. During her campaign, Williams emphasized her commitment to "strong leadership, strong family values, and a change we can trust." She noted that "she is dedicated to her work, determined, and hard-working."

Williams explained that she has a strong desire for the young people in her community. She described family values as being the "backbone that shapes" the community.

Since winning the election, Williams has continued to work hard in Centreville. She said recently: "I am in the process of stuffing backpacks for my church. I always find some area that I can give back to the community." Stay tuned for more news about this rising star.

Elect Felicia Williams

For

Alderman Ward 1

She is running for this position because she loves this community. She has the background and experiences necessary to successfully address the current and future challenges of this office.

She is a native of Centreville, MS, and have lived in this area her entire life. She is the daughter of Estella Ray and the Late Calvin Ray Jr. She has one daughter, Emily Powell.

She is a 1994 graduate of Wilkinson County High School.

She studied Law Enforcement at Southwest Community College (1994-95).

She completed a diploma program in Diesel Truck Driving at Southwest Community College (2002).

She is currently enrolled at Ashford University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

She started a non-profit organization called “Community Action” with Amite County 2^nd District. Supervisor in 2004, which was responsible for teaching Job Skills and Basic Skills to girls and boys age 8-18.

She served as a Volunteer Fire Fighter in Centreville from 2008-2010.

She was a Truck Driver for Swift Transportation for several years. For over 10 years she traveled the continental United States working in the Nuclear Industry. In this Industry she worked as a Senior General Foreman for Chicago Bridge and Iron (Laborers Local #1177), a Senior Decontamination Technician for DZ Atlantic, and a Junior Radiation Protection Technician for Bartlett Nuclear. During those years she frequently spent time in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Connecticut servicing PSEG, Entergy, and the East Coast Area. After returning here in 2015, she became employed at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, MS, where she now serves as a Captain.

She is currently a member of the Nathaniel Baptist Church here in Centreville, MS.

She is a member of OES, Rising Stars #50 of Liberty, MS.

She is a Volunteer for Red Cross of America (Southern Mississippi Region).

She is a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 3700 of Centreville, MS.

She serves as PTA (Parent Teacher Association) President at Finch Elementary.

She serves as Community Representative for AJFC Head Start for both Centreville and Woodville Centers and is a Policy Council Board Member.

She is dedicated to her work, determined, and hard-working, has a strong desire for the youth in this community, believe in family values and that it is the backbone that shapes our communities. She also believes that strong leadership is what our communities need and that it is time for a change.

One June 6, 2017, Be the Change, Vote for a Respected Community Leader, One with Strong Family Values, Strong Leadership, and A Change We can Trust.  

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Author’s Note:

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