FROM THE EDITOR ’ S DESK
Reflecting on summer 1964
Looking back on history is always important because history never really stays behind us . It always seems to find a way of repeating itself , and understanding how things in the past have shaped the way things are today helps us to avoid the mistakes and move forward as a society .
One of those important past events for our state occurred during the summer of 1964 when hundreds of college students and volunteers , mostly from the North , joined a few hundred brave Black Mississippians , for the Freedom Summer project . These volunteers came from different backgrounds , religious faiths , civil rights organizations and colleges to register Black Mississippians to vote , to draw national attention to the civil rights movement in the state and to establish Freedom Schools aimed at exposing Black youth to more educational offerings than they were being exposed to in their segregated schools .
This year is the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer and the Meridian Freedom School , the largest Freedom School that took place in the state . Many voices from first-hand accounts of that time are slowly being silenced due to age , but to mark the anniversary , we take a look back in our cover story with three civil rights workers — Sue Brown , Roscoe Jones and Mark Levy — who were on the front lines that summer and the lasting legacy of their heroic efforts .
Also in this edition , we feature The National Council of Meridianites Inc . 55th Convention and Picnic , founded in 1967 in Detroit , Michigan , by a group of former friends who had grown up in Meridian but moved away for better educational and job opportunities . Having reconnected , they started the annual reunion and celebration .
This edition also takes a look at local cyclist and history teacher Ed Abdella , who is preparing for his toughest bike challenge to date when he competes in Race Across America , an ultra-distance road cycling race that will start on the west coast on June 11 and finish on the east coast 12 days later .
The Artist Corner feature spotlights Grayson Culpepper , 14 , who is popping up at music festivals and community events around town , pursing his deep love for music , especially classic country and Southern rock .
The Community feature also takes a look at two young Meridianites , Elle and Andi Dunn , who are familiar faces to many Earth ’ s Bounty regular shoppers with their lemonade stand , Giva Kids Lemonade . The sisters , who are involved in beauty pageants , use proceeds from their business venture to help fund their community service platforms , which are aimed at helping the homeless in our community and elderly residents with dementia , Alzheimer ’ s disease and other memory loss disorders .
In Along for the Ride , travel riders Brandi Perry and Dori Lowe take readers on a visit to Columbia and Marion County , which for a short one-year period was the state capital of Mississippi . In addition , Thomas Howard in our Local Eats feature visits The Rib Shack , a BBQ restaurant in town that believes in second chances , and we bring you an easy dessert for your July 4th celebration — cold , sweet , creamy homemade ice cream , offering up five recipes that you will want to try .
This is your June edition of Meridian Life magazine . We hope you enjoy reading it .
Glenda Sanders Meridian Life Editor
MERIDIAN LIFE The people and communities of Lauderdale County
EDITOR Glenda Sanders
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Thomas Howard Dori Lowe Brandi Perry Glenda Sanders
PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Howard Mark Levy Dori Lowe Glenda Sanders
ADVERTISING Tayler Dailey Lisa Webb
DESIGNER Tayler Dailey Glenda Sanders
PRODUCTION Jennifer Hammond
DISTRIBUTION Bobby Fields Melissa Miller
Meridian Life , a publication of the Meridian Star , is published six times a year .
814 22nd Ave . Meridian , MS 39301 601.693.1551
Comments or editorial content , including photos , should be sent to gsanders @ themeridianstar . com . Meridian Life is not responsible for unsolicited submissions .
Reproduction or use of any content in this publication for any manner without permission is prohibited .
Meridian Life can be found online at www . meridianstar . com . www . meridianstar . com
5 •