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

Middleton Attendance Center

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2025

1. Middleton Attendance Center Marker

Inscription.
Opened in 1959, Middleton Attendance Center was built for African American students in Lauderdale County as part of Mississippi's school equalization program. It housed grades one through twelve. The largest school in the county, it was led by F.P. Posey. with Smiley Bonds and George Moseley as the high school and elementary school principals. Middleton closed in 1969 with integration and reopened as Northeast Elementary School. Middleton's colors were black and gold, and the mascot was a panther.

Erected 2023 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

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

Location. 32° 25.99′ N, 88° 40.264′ W. Marker is in Meridian, Mississippi, in Lauderdale County. It is on Newell Road 0.2 miles south of Windmill Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6750 Newell Rd, Meridian MS 39305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Mississippi. It is also in the American

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South

and specifically in the Deep South.

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 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mississippi Attendance Center (here, next to this marker); Marion CSA Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Marion C.S.A. Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away); Peavey Electronics (approx. 2.2 miles away); Old Marion Cemetery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery (approx. 3.7 miles away); Site of Meridian Male College (approx. 3.7 miles away); Site of Meridian College and Conservatory (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meridian.

Also see . . . Middleton Attendance Center unveils historic marker on grounds of Northeast Elementary School. ABC 11 channel story on placement of marker. (Submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Marker along road in front of the Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2025

2. Marker along road in front of the Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.