Biloxi in Harrison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Design for Future Beach Wade-In Memorial

Biloxi Beach Wade-Ins Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

1. Biloxi Beach Wade-Ins Memorial Marker

Inscription.

Design for Future Beach Wade-In Memorial. . In 1959, 1960 and 1963 over 182 courageous souls participated in the Biloxi Beach Wade-in protests. Many of the participants have passed away and many are still alive, leaving a proud heritage to their families. A number of the wade-in participants were teenagers at the time. Of these, Clemon Perry Jimerson, Sr. has made it his work to author and compile the names of the wade-in participants with the commitment that these civil rights heroes should be remembered. Through a special collaboration with the National Parks Community Input Team, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and Mississippi State University Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, a grant was received from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources through the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Program to design a memorial to list the names of the Biloxi wade-in participants. , The proposed memorial will honor the participants who sacrificed their lives and livelihood in order to gain access to the beach by placing their names on a wall along a sloped walk that goes onto the beach. , Biloxi Beach Wade-in Participants: , Lester Alexis . Rev. John “Jack” Aregood . Joseph Austin . Charlie Avery . Martin Batiste . Earnest Batiste, Jr. . Richard Beasley . James Bell . Albert Bradfield . James Lewis Black . William “Bill” Bradford . Ellis Brown . Luzell Bullock, Jr. . Luzell Bullock, Sr. . Raymond Burbridge . Lionel Burbridge . Arthur Burney . Rose Burney . Burnell Burney . Leonard Burney . Ralph Burney . Wilbert Calmes, Sr. . George Camey . Le Roy Carney . Willie Jean Cherry McSwain . Eddie Collins . Calvon Corley . Sandy Daniels . Cheryl Robinson Davis . Myrtle Davis . James Bill Davis . Beverly Joyce “Pip” Dickey . Ruby L. Dickey . Bruno Dickey . John Dickey . Rev. A.A. Dickey . Marvin Dickey, Sr. . Richard “Turk” Dryden, Sr. . Alvin Dukes . Charles Ellis . Rehofus Ester, Jr. . John Esters . Rehofus Esters, Sr. . Gilmore Fielder . Walter James Fleeton . Gloria Jean Fleeton Davis , Bernell Fletcher . Bertha Floyd . Otha Lee Floyd, Jr. . Otha Lee Floyd, Sr. . Jessie Ford . Rev. Roger Gallagher . Dorothy Galloway . Wesley Galloway . Lawrence Gines . Hubert Granberry . George Henry Gray . P.I. Green . Elodia S. Guthrie . Paul L. Guthrie . Richardo Guthrie, PhD . Fredrick Hamilton . Natalie Lorraine Hamlar Mason . Patience Harris . James Ozell Harrison . Jeff “Bob Steel” Harrison . Jessie James “Short Leg” Harrison . Tauleece Hatton . Roberta D. Harkless . Bobby Hope . Gregory Hoyd . Clemon Hoyd, Sr. . Gloria Hoze . Jackie Hoze . James Hoze . Jimmie Hoze . Charles Huddleston . Lewis Irvin . Earnest Jackson . Malcomb “Papa” Jackson . Gerald Jacobs . Edward Jacobs . Arthur Lee Jacobs . Peter James . Jim James . Clemon “Bootsy” Perry Jimerson, Sr. . Myrtle Jeanette McSwain Jimerson Fleeton . Phillip Johnson . Lonnie Charles Johnson . Charles Kemp , James Oliver Kemp . Clemon R. Kemp . Geraldine Kemp . Olivia Kemp . Cornelius Kemp, Jr. . Cornelius Kemp, Sr. . Janice Elzy Kennedy . Wayne Lewis . Al Joseph Lewis, Sr. . Joe Lomberger . Jimmie Lomberger . Adell Lott . Altease Fairley Magee . Daniel Webster Magee . Nebraska Magee . Gilbert Mason, Jr.. Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr. . Aslena Massey . Wilmer B. McDaniel . Dorothy McDaniel . Ellen McGowan Williams . James McGowan, Jr. . James McGowan, Sr. . Robert Lee McIntyre, Jr. . Nolan McSwain, Sr. . Anthony Mitchell . Bishop Robert Nance, Sr. . Lee Owners . Curtis Pearson . Annette Pierce . Patsy Ann Pierce . James Pollard . Hillard Dwain “Duke” Pringle . Gary Rainey . Ruby Rainey . Ethel Rainey Clay . Jacqueline Rainey Moody . James Rainey, Jr. . James Rainey, Sr. . Yvonne Pope Richburg . Brian K. Robinson . Cecil J. Robinson . Mildred Scott Robinson . Ted Robinson . William P. Robinson, Sr. . William P. Robinson, Jr. . Bernard Rosado . Phillip Rosado , Christopher Rosado . Earnest Rosado . Leo Russell . John Sadler . Jackson Murray Saucier . Corine Scott . Marshall Scott . Michael Seymour . Jerome Shaw, Jr. . Emma Doris Fairley Smith . Ossie May Smith . Carrol Spencer . Montana McNair Stewart . Calvin Stewart . Edward Stewart . Jessie J. (J.J.) Stewart . Delores Stewart Shealy . Charles Straight . Bud Strong . Albert Snakenbyrd . Budbee Snakenbyrd . Dr. Joel “Joseph” Overton Tate . Asariah Taylor . Marzine Thames . Kenneth Thames . Joseph Earl Thomas . Ivory Thomas . Roville Thomas . David Thomas, Sr. . Dr. Eugene Trudeau . Willie Walker . Audrey “Ari” Washington . Felton Washington . Eulice White . Willie Wiggins . Herbert Willes . Diane Williams . Sandford Williams . Neil Woods, Sr. . Andrew Wright . Frederick “Freddie” Wright . George Wright . William (Will) Wright, Jr. , Authored and compiled by Clemon Perry Jimerson, Sr. , [Captions (,i>clockwise, from top)] , . 1960 Wade-in , . View from the beach , . View from the north , . Plan

In 1959, 1960 and 1963 over 182 courageous souls participated in the Biloxi Beach Wade-in protests. Many of the participants have passed away and many are still alive, leaving a proud heritage to their families. A number of the wade-in participants were teenagers at the time. Of these, Clemon Perry Jimerson, Sr. has made it his work to author and compile the names of the wade-in participants with the commitment that these civil rights heroes should be remembered. Through a special collaboration with the National Parks Community Input Team, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and Mississippi State University Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, a grant was received from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources through the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Program to design a memorial to list the names of the Biloxi wade-in participants.

The proposed memorial will honor the participants who sacrificed their lives and livelihood in order to gain access to the beach by placing their names on a wall along a sloped walk that goes onto the beach.

Biloxi Beach Wade-in Participants:
Lester

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Alexis • Rev. John “Jack” Aregood • Joseph Austin • Charlie Avery • Martin Batiste • Earnest Batiste, Jr. • Richard Beasley • James Bell • Albert Bradfield • James Lewis Black • William “Bill” Bradford • Ellis Brown • Luzell Bullock, Jr. • Luzell Bullock, Sr. • Raymond Burbridge • Lionel Burbridge • Arthur Burney • Rose Burney • Burnell Burney • Leonard Burney • Ralph Burney • Wilbert Calmes, Sr. • George Camey • Le Roy Carney • Willie Jean Cherry McSwain • Eddie Collins • Calvon Corley • Sandy Daniels • Cheryl Robinson Davis • Myrtle Davis • James Bill Davis • Beverly Joyce “Pip” Dickey • Ruby L. Dickey • Bruno Dickey • John Dickey • Rev. A.A. Dickey • Marvin Dickey, Sr. • Richard “Turk” Dryden, Sr. • Alvin Dukes • Charles Ellis • Rehofus Ester, Jr. • John Esters • Rehofus Esters, Sr. • Gilmore Fielder • Walter James Fleeton • Gloria Jean Fleeton Davis

Bernell Fletcher • Bertha Floyd • Otha Lee Floyd, Jr. • Otha Lee Floyd, Sr. • Jessie Ford • Rev. Roger Gallagher • Dorothy Galloway • Wesley Galloway • Lawrence Gines • Hubert Granberry • George Henry Gray • P.I. Green • Elodia S. Guthrie • Paul L. Guthrie • Richardo Guthrie, PhD

Design for Future Beach Wade-In Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

2. Design for Future Beach Wade-In Memorial

• Fredrick Hamilton • Natalie Lorraine Hamlar Mason • Patience Harris • James Ozell Harrison • Jeff “Bob Steel” Harrison • Jessie James “Short Leg” Harrison • Tauleece Hatton • Roberta D. Harkless • Bobby Hope • Gregory Hoyd • Clemon Hoyd, Sr. • Gloria Hoze • Jackie Hoze • James Hoze • Jimmie Hoze • Charles Huddleston • Lewis Irvin • Earnest Jackson • Malcomb “Papa” Jackson • Gerald Jacobs • Edward Jacobs • Arthur Lee Jacobs • Peter James • Jim James • Clemon “Bootsy” Perry Jimerson, Sr. • Myrtle Jeanette McSwain Jimerson Fleeton • Phillip Johnson • Lonnie Charles Johnson • Charles Kemp

James Oliver Kemp • Clemon R. Kemp • Geraldine Kemp • Olivia Kemp • Cornelius Kemp, Jr. • Cornelius Kemp, Sr. • Janice Elzy Kennedy • Wayne Lewis • Al Joseph Lewis, Sr. • Joe Lomberger • Jimmie Lomberger • Adell Lott • Altease Fairley Magee • Daniel Webster Magee • Nebraska Magee • Gilbert Mason, Jr.• Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr. • Aslena Massey • Wilmer B. McDaniel • Dorothy McDaniel • Ellen McGowan Williams • James McGowan, Jr. • James McGowan, Sr. • Robert Lee McIntyre, Jr. • Nolan McSwain, Sr. • Anthony Mitchell • Bishop Robert Nance, Sr. • Lee Owners

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• Curtis Pearson • Annette Pierce • Patsy Ann Pierce • James Pollard • Hillard Dwain “Duke” Pringle • Gary Rainey • Ruby Rainey • Ethel Rainey Clay • Jacqueline Rainey Moody • James Rainey, Jr. • James Rainey, Sr. • Yvonne Pope Richburg • Brian K. Robinson • Cecil J. Robinson • Mildred Scott Robinson • Ted Robinson • William P. Robinson, Sr. • William P. Robinson, Jr. • Bernard Rosado • Phillip Rosado

Christopher Rosado • Earnest Rosado • Leo Russell • John Sadler • Jackson Murray Saucier • Corine Scott • Marshall Scott • Michael Seymour • Jerome Shaw, Jr. • Emma Doris Fairley Smith • Ossie May Smith • Carrol Spencer • Montana McNair Stewart • Calvin Stewart • Edward Stewart • Jessie J. (J.J.) Stewart • Delores Stewart Shealy • Charles Straight • Bud Strong • Albert Snakenbyrd • Budbee Snakenbyrd • Dr. Joel “Joseph” Overton Tate • Asariah Taylor • Marzine Thames • Kenneth Thames • Joseph Earl Thomas • Ivory Thomas • Roville Thomas • David Thomas, Sr. • Dr. Eugene Trudeau • Willie Walker • Audrey “Ari” Washington • Felton Washington • Eulice White • Willie Wiggins • Herbert Willes • Diane Williams • Sandford Williams • Neil Woods, Sr. • Andrew Wright • Frederick “Freddie” Wright • George Wright • William (Will) Wright, Jr.

Authored and compiled by Clemon Perry Jimerson, Sr.

[Captions (,i>clockwise, from top)]
• 1960 Wade-in
• View from the beach
• View from the north
• Plan

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 30° 23.639′ N, 88° 54.097′ W. Marker is in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Harrison County. It can be reached from the intersection of Beach Boulevard (U.S. 90) and Porter Avenue. Marker is on the edge of the Biloxi Lighthouse parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1061 Beach Blvd, Biloxi MS 39530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Civil Rights Wade-Ins (here, next to this marker); Middle Passage to Biloxi (a few steps from this marker); Sea Turtles of the Mississippi Sound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Biloxi Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); A love letter to Biloxi (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Biloxi Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronaut Fred Haise (within shouting distance of this marker); The Story of Apollo 13 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biloxi.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Landing of Pierre LeMoyne D'Iberville (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Biloxi Beach Wade-In (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Biloxi Lighthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Biloxi Lighthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Biloxi Wade-ins (1959-1963). The Biloxi Wade-Ins was the first major Civil Rights campaign in Mississippi. (By Samuel Momodu, BlackPast, posted April 9, 2022) (Submitted on March 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. A Civil Rights Watershed in Biloxi, Mississippi. Frustrated by the segregated shoreline, black residents stormed the beaches and survived brutal attacks on “Bloody Sunday”. (By Matthew Pitt, Smithsonian Magazine, April 19, 2010) (Submitted on March 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 694 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.