People

Dahmer, Ellie

Dahmer was born in Jasper County, Mississippi in 1925. Dahmer attended Jasper County Training School, and after completing high school, she attended Alcorn A&M College (now Alcorn State University). After her sophomore year, she transferred to Tennessee A&F in Nashville, […]

Dahmer, Vernon

Vernon Dahmer, Sr., (1908-1966) was a businessman and civil rights activist in the Hattiesburg area. He owned several businesses, including a sawmill and store, and he served two terms as president of the NAACP chapter in the local area. Dahmer […]

Darley, Dede L. Jackson

Darley was the first black teacher to teach in West Point High School after desegregation in 1969. She taught in the West Point School System for forty-seven years. Sources: West Point Hall of Fame

Davidov, Marv: Oral History

Marv Davidov participated in the Freedom Rides in 1961. He describes the conditions at Parchman State Penitentiary. The video was filmed for the documentary The Children Shall Lead (link). Marv Davidov from Winter Institute on Vimeo. His oral history may also […]

Davis, Alexander K.

Davis was a black male who served as Lieutenant Governor during Reconstruction. He was impeached as a result of Democrats taking back the government. After he was impeached, he returned to Noxubee County where he opened a saloon that attracted […]

Davis, Ernest

Davis was the first black policeman to serve in West Point. Davis was also the first school bus driver for black children. Sources: West Point Hall of Fame

Davis, John Harry

John Harry Davis: Davis is from Ackerman, Mississippi, and attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He participated in boycotts and demonstrations while at Rust College in 1961. There is evidence he was involved with the Council of Federated Organizations […]

Davis, Walker Milan

W.M. Davis was an educator born in Okolona, Mississippi, in 1908. After graduating from Alcorn State and earning a master’s from Iowa State, he served as an administrator and teacher at Alcorn State. From 1933 to 1940 he served as […]

Dearman, Stanley: Oral History

Stanley Dearman was born in raised in Lauderdale County Mississippi. He joined the navy after community college then returned to attend the University of Mississippi. After graduation he began working at the Neshoba Democrat, where he would serve as editor […]

Decell, Hal

Hal Decell was the editor, publisher, and co-owner of the “Deer Creek Pilot”, Sharkey County’s newspaper of widest circulation, for thirty-nine years, including the civil rights era. The “Deer Creek Pilot”is based in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, […]

Dedmon, Daryl

Daryl Dedmon was convicted for the murder of James Craig Anderson. On June 26, 2011 seven young white men from Rankin County drove into Jackson, MS with the intention of committing hate crimes against black people. They attacked James Craig […]

Devine, Annie

Annie Devine was one of Madison County’s leading women in civil rights. She and other civil rights leaders organized the Canton office for CORE in 1963. In 1964, Devine and other civil rights workers organized Canton’s first Freedom Day on […]

Dilworth, Annie Mae Trice

She taught at Burnsville, MS, at the Iuka Colored School and taught the first black graduating class in Tishomingo County.

Dixon, Ernestine

She was born October 21, 1957, in Glendora, MS, and received an AA in Business Administration from Coahoma Community College. From 2001 to 2005 she served as the first female African American mayor of Webb, MS. She now works as […]

Dr. D.M. Forster

D.M. Forster was one of the first African American doctors to practice medicine in Union County. He came to the county from Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1956.

Dulaney Jr., John

A local attorney, Mr. Dulaney was the first President and one of the founders of the local White Citizens Council. Sources: Sovereignty Commission Online: http://mdah.state.ms.us/arlib/contents/er/sovcom/

Dunagin, Charles: Oral History

Charles Dunagin was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His father served in WW II, and his mother was a nurse who served as well. After graduating from Petal School District, Dunagin attended Ole Miss, then moved to McComb to pursue a […]