City dedicates Washington Street Park to Vicksburg trailblazers

The ribbon-cutting and dedication of the Washington Street Park took place on historic Washington Street Aug. 15. During the ceremony a five-sided eagle monument was dedicated to honor five residents of Vicksburg who positively impacted the city.

Included in the extraordinary five are:

Honoree plaques and citations. Photo by Gabrielle Terrett, Vicksburg Daily News

Lee Willa Miller: Miller used her status as a life member of the Vicksburg chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to engage Vicksburg’s African Americans directly in policy changes by organizing marches and setting up youth voter registration drives.

Landy Teller: A graduate of the University of Mississippi who went on to pursue a career as the Judge Advocate General Corp with the U.S. Army, Teller served on the Warren County Bar, Mississippi Bar and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

State Sen. Grey Ferris: An advocate for better education in his home state of Mississippi, Ferris helped create and pass the Adequate Education Act which has helped equalize funding to schools in less prosperous districts of Mississippi by directly channeling funds to those schools.

Sharen Wilson: Wilson was a New Orleans native who migrated to Vicksburg after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She became an outstanding member of Vicksburg society after joining St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the Fostoria Neighborhood Association and the Vicksburg Art Association.

James Winfield: Winfield was a 1963 graduate of the renowned Rosa A. Temple High School who went on to become the first African American city prosecutor in Vicksburg.

Each of these honorees devoted themselves to the improvement of the city through their various platforms including law and community involvement among a plethora of other outlets.

“These people made history and never backed down from a challenge,” said Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. cuts the ribbon to officially open the Washington Street Park. Photo by Gabrielle Terrett, Vicksburg Daily News

Thursday’s ceremony was attended by town dignitaries, residents and family members of the honorees, all enthusiastic for the dedication.

“I am extremely excited about this monument,” said Kenya Gaskin, granddaughter of Lee Willa Miller. “My grandmother did wonderful things in this community, and it’s great that she is being recognized for them.”

The ceremony began at 5 p.m. with Pablo Diaz of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Port Commission and Economic Development Foundation, offering a welcome and flowed into the Presentation of the Honorees by Mayor Flaggs before Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street, thanked the mayor, honorees and the crowd for celebrating and adding to the history of the town.

Many people spoke and shared their stories of Wilson, Teller, Miller, Ferris and Winfield, , but Mayor Flaggs gave a heartfelt and emotional tribute to the five people honored on the statue. Here, in its entirety, is his speech:

The Honorable George Flaggs, Jr., Mayor, City of Vicksburg

“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” – Dorothy Height

As we stand here today to pay homage to five great individuals, it is our divine duty to refer to the source that has given us the comforts we have today. According to Romans 13:7, Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to who tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to who fear; honor to whom honor.

As we honor these individuals it is evident that each of them possesses the qualities of what Isaiah explains to us in Isaiah 40:31, But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Mrs. Sharen Camille Ulrich Wilson

Like an eagle, Mrs. Sharen Wilson was a nurturer.

Nurturing eagles take good care of those around them; invest time in everyone around them; build strong, stable relationships; teach and guide others; and never stop directing and guiding others.

Like an eagle, she was active in many church, school and community organizations; and

Like an eagle, Mrs. Wilson quickly immersed herself into this community by joining St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Vicksburg Art Association, Fostoria Neighborhood Association and by participating in various other community programs and activities, including working in a local shop; and

Like an eagle, Mrs. Wilson was a beautiful and compassionate soul who was intelligent, resourceful and always ready to help. The City of Vicksburg greatly benefited from her presence, her talent and her love of the arts.

Attorney Landman J. “Landy” Teller

Like an eagle, Attorney Landman J. “Landy” Teller, Jr. was a high flyer.

High flying eagles are problem solvers, love challenges, remain focuses, reach great altitudes, work to inspire others and appear to exert little energy, but they naturally glide through life, pursuing their dreams!

Like an eagle, Landy met legal challenges head-on and never complained while doing the work that he loved, practicing law and sharing that message with his colleagues: and

Like an eagle, Landy never lost his focus and often answered the call to serve his community and his alma mater; and

Like an eagle, Attorney Teller put his heart and soul into his hometown, seizing every opportunity to inspire economic growth and development.

Mrs. Lee Willa Jackson Miller

Like Mrs. Lee Willa Jackson Miller was fearless.

Fearless eagles risk themselves for other’s survival, are not afraid to put themselves on the front line for right; will protect what they love, cherish and believe in and never back down from a challenge.

Like an eagle, Mrs. Miller worked tirelessly to upgrade the conditions of African Americans in Vicksburg and Mississippi; and

Like an eagle, she was an avid proponent of the Civil Rights movement, marching and organizing so that African Americans would be represented in the decision-making process and in policy change; and

Like an eagle, Mrs. Miller organized youth voter registration drives, helped senior citizens with absentee ballot casting, make campaign calls, coordinated voter transportation, vetted politicians and offered sought after political candidate endorsements.

Senator Grey Flowers Ferris

Like an eagle, Senator Grey Flower Ferris was a powerful visionary.

Visionary eagles never lose their focus; remain patient, but ever-present in the pursuit of their goals; have an all-around and complete view of their surroundings; possess long-distance focus with clarity; and see reality clearly but are prepared for the future.

Like an eagle, State Senator Ferris was a long-time advocate for public education in Mississippi, never losing his focus’ and

Like an eagle, his focus never changed in that he was committed to improving public education-elected to the first board for the Vicksburg Warren School District and the Mississippi State Senate where he was committed to reforming educational opportunities in rural and underfunded areas of Mississippi working closely with librarians to create the MAGNOLIA project.

Attorney James Eros Winfield, Sr. 

Like an eagle, Attorney James Winfield was tenacious.

Tenacious eagles are defenders; fly directly into the storm; soar to greater heights; invest in relationships, face challenges head on and never run from confrontation (for right); and never give up and defend people fairly.

Like an eagle, Attorney James Winfield became the first African American to return home to practice law; and

Like an eagle, Attorney Winfield was the first African American City Prosecutor for the City of Vicksburg; and

Like an eagle, Attorney Winfield worked diligently during the Civil Rights Movement in Vickburg. He was one of the lead attorneys in Johnson versus the State of Mississippi which was the Concerned Citizens’ boycott case against the City fo Vicksburg in 1972.

Like an eagle, Attorney James Eros Winfield was actively involved in other turbulent issues during the ’70s and was tenacious in his fight for racial equality in all facets of like, especially for the citizens of Vicksburg.

Updated to include the text of Mayor Flaggs’ speech.