‘Give the City Back to God’: Vicksburg officials sworn in, share message of hope

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — With messages of hope, change and opportunity, the incoming Vicksburg municipal administration was sworn in Sunday evening at the Ardis T. Williams Sr. Auditorium.

Judge James Jefferson Jr. administered the oaths of office to Mayor Willis Thompson, Ward 1 Alderman T.J. Mayfield, and Ward 2 Alderwoman Vickie Bailey.

“I’m humbled to stand before you as the next mayor of the city of Vicksburg,” said Thompson. “I thank you for putting your trust in me to work with this board to lead this city forward.”

Thompson said that throughout the campaign, he found that residents from all corners of Vicksburg shared the same priorities.

“As I journeyed through the campaign, we visited neighborhoods, churches—even living rooms of those gracious enough to invite us in,” he said. “We met with ministers and the business community, just to hear the concerns of the citizens. And one thing stood out: we all want the same thing. We all want to live in a safe community. We all want a growing city. We want a city that’s infrastructurally sound, where tax dollars are handled wisely. We want to live in a city that has hope and a future—a city others want to invest in. That’s what should bring us together in unity.”

Thompson added that confronting issues like crime will require not only policy but spiritual leadership.

“We hear about crime in every city,” he said. “But a lot of those problems—we don’t fight them carnally; it’s spiritual warfare. So, it’s going to take all of us. We’re going to call on the spiritual community. We’re going to call on the church. We’re going to join hands and seek God to lead the city forward, to give the city back to God, where it belongs.”

Ward 1 Alderman T.J. Mayfield, who won a special election last year after the passing of his father, longtime Alderman Michael Mayfield Sr., said he is proud to carry on his father’s legacy.

“I’m so proud to sit in the seat my dad held for years,” Mayfield said. “I will continue to serve with the same honesty, integrity and dignity that he did. More importantly, I’ll serve with the same purpose—doing what’s right for the people of Vicksburg. It’s not every day that the people elect a 31-year-old to this seat, and I don’t take that lightly. I understand the integrity and responsibility this role demands, and I pledge to uphold that every single day.”

Newly elected Ward 2 Alderwoman Vickie Bailey said her campaign messages were not just talking points, but a vision for Vicksburg’s future.

“Throughout my campaign, I often spoke about change, improvement and unity,” Bailey said. “These are not just words. They are pillars on which we will build a brighter future for Vicksburg. I’m here, first and foremost, because I believe in myself—but I’m also here because you believe, as I believe, that Vicksburg can and will be a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and that we can all embrace progress. We have an opportunity to honor our rich history.”