Historical Marker

Anne Moody

Historical marker location:
Centreville, Mississippi
( in Louis Gaulden/Riquita B. Jackson Family Memorial Park in Centreville)
Marker installed: 2021
Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

A heroine of the Civil Rights Movement. Anne Moody was born in 1940 in Wilkinson County near Centreville. In her classic 1968 memoir, Coming of Age in Mississippi, she lucidly and eloquently articulates what it was like to grow up in poverty, to suffer racial discrimination, and to fight for social change as a civil rights activist. She attended Natchez Junior College on a basketball scholarship and Tougaloo College on an academic scholarship. She received her B.S. degree from Tougaloo in 1964. A member of CORE and NAACP, she spoke out against racial injustice and participated in marches, door-to-door canvassing and sit-ins. In 1963, when she and fellow Tougaloo students staged a sit-in at Woolworth's lunch counter in Jackson, it received national attention. For her courage, she was harassed, sometimes jailed, and often isolated from her family.

In 1975, she published a collection of stories, Mr. Death. She died in Gloster, Mississippi, on February 5, 2015

The Mississippi Writers Trail is a program by the Mississippi Arts Commission. It pays tribute to the state’s most acclaimed and influential writers through a series of historical markers that recognize the importance of place in an author’s life while educating the public about the history and legacy of Mississippi writers. This statewide community improvement activity connects historical preservation, tourism and transportation. The cast aluminum markers, shaped like an open book inform travelers and highlight information about local authors including their birthplace, home, gravesite, museum, or literary locale. These markers will eventually span the entirety of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Hills. Mississippians such as Natasha Trethewey, Richard Wright, Eudora Welty, Walker Percy, Larry Brown, Jesmyn Ward, and many more will be honored with a Mississippi Writers Trail marker.

For more information visit arts.ms.gov.

Writers Trail
Mississippi was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused extensive damage to the state's Gulf Coast region and led to the displacement of thousands of residents.
Mississippi random facts
Wilkinson County, Mississippi, holds a rich and diverse history dating back to before the arrival of European settlers. The Native American Natchez tribe inhabited the region and built impressive ceremonial mounds. In the late 17th century, French explorers began to venture into the area, establishing relationships with the Natchez and building Fort Rosalie in 1716. However, tensions arose between the French and the Natchez, resulting in the Natchez War in 1729-1731, leading to the Natchez being largely displaced from the area.

In the early 19th century, Wilkinson County saw an influx of settlers from the eastern United States. The county was officially established in 1802, with Woodville as its county seat. The area flourished, with the fertile soil attracting cotton plantations and wealthy plantation owners. These plantations relied heavily on slave labor, and by 1860, over 9,000 slaves were living in Wilkinson County, making up the majority of the population.

During the Civil War, Wilkinson County became a significant site for military operations. The Battle of Woodville took place in 1863, as Union forces attempted to disrupt the supply lines of the Confederate army. After the war, the county faced the challenges of Reconstruction, with many plantations destroyed and the social and economic fabric of the area severely disrupted.

Throughout the 20th century, Wilkinson County experienced periods of growth and decline. The advent of the railroad in the late 19th century brought economic opportunities, but the Great Depression in the 1930s saw many residents struggle. Today, Wilkinson County continues to maintain its rural character, with a focus on agricultural activities such as forestry and farming. The county also boasts historic buildings, such as the Woodville Rosenwald School, which serve as reminders of its rich history.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Wilkinson County, Mississippi.

  • 1799: Wilkinson County was established by the Mississippi Territorial Legislature.
  • 1802: Fort Adams, a military installation, was built in the county.
  • 1812: Wilkinson County became a county in the newly formed state of Mississippi.
  • 1825: Woodville, the county seat, was incorporated.
  • 1832: The county experienced significant economic growth due to the cotton boom.
  • 1861-1865: Wilkinson County was deeply affected by the American Civil War.
  • 1870s: Reconstruction era brought political and social changes to the county.
  • 1890s: The timber industry became an important part of the county's economy.
  • 1950s-1960s: Wilkinson County played a role in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • 2005: Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to the county.