Meridian in Lauderdale County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

St. John Baptist Church

Meridian Civil Rights Trail

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 3, 2017

1. St. John Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. St. John Baptist Church was one of two locations where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was scheduled to speak in 1964, as well as the site of Polly Heidelberg's memorable confrontation of a former Klan member. "Miss Polly" was a mother figure to local Civil Rights activists.

Erected 2014 by the Meridian/Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights • Women. In addition, it is included in the Meridian, Mississippi Civil Rights Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 32° 22.688′ N, 88° 41.84′ W. Marker is in Meridian, Mississippi, in Lauderdale County. Marker is at the intersection of 20th Street and 18th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on 20th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2000 18th Avenue, Meridian MS 39301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Joseph Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Edmund "Buck" Crook, Jr. (approx. 0.3 miles away); Poplar Springs Road Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); 10th Avenue Masonic Cemeteries (approx.

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half a mile away); Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Newell Chapel CME (approx. 0.6 miles away); Whitfield "Big Central" High School (approx. 0.6 miles away); McLemore Cemetery (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meridian.

St. John Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 3, 2017

2. St. John Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 5, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.