Legendary civil rights icon James Meredith recently paid a visit to his hometown of Kosciusko.
Mayor Tim Kyle said Meredith, along with his wife Judy, caregiver, Amanda Taylor and friend, Delano Funches, visited Kosciusko Thursday, Aug. 29.
While in town, the group made several stops, including to see the James Meredith mural painting located at the Kosciusko Visitor’s Center.
The mural is a testament to his life to which he was very pleased especially the information about the James Meredith Bible Society which mission statement is “to create and inspire a religious awakening for the purpose of solving problems incurred by broken families in black communities.”
Next, there was a stop at the Skipworth Performing Arts Center to view the wall panel featuring an image of a young Meredith as a student at Ole Miss.
Additionally, Kyle presented Meredith with one of new historical maps from the Kosciusko Historic District Mobile Tour, which has several historical narratives about Kosciusko, and one of those is his fight for equality.
The group then made a stop at the intersection of Allen and S Huntington Streets where a new James Meredith Civil Rights Marker will be placed.
“It was moving to witness his reaction as he reflected on the journey that has brought him from those formative years to the present,” said Kyle. “Their visit was not only a significant moment for them personally, but also a reminder to us all of the impact that one individual can have on a community and beyond.”
Meredith, the first African American to be admitted to Ole Miss, graduated from the school in 1963. He went on to be a major leader in the civil rights movement with his 1966 “March Against Fear.”
