The Magnolia Monarchs Alumni Association is expanding its efforts to preserve the history of Magnolia High School through a new website and an upcoming state historical marker recognizing the school’s legacy in Moss Point.
The association, founded in 1981 by former students, was created to preserve the spirit of Magnolia High School after the school system integrated in the early 1970s. According to the association, Magnolia High School, established in 1902, was the first city school for African American students in South Mississippi.
Board member and publicity chair Melva Seabron said the organization continues to bring former students and their families together through reunions, parades and other events while supporting future generations through scholarships.
“These former students got together and said, ‘What can we do to continue the spirit of Magnolia?’” Seabron said.
Seabron said the association grew out of a desire to preserve the school’s history while continuing its longstanding emphasis on education. Reunion weekends and community events also serve as fundraisers for the organization’s scholarship program.
Since its founding, the Magnolia Monarchs Alumni Association has awarded more than $355,000 in scholarships to descendants of Magnolia High School alumni, Seabron said. Applicants must meet academic requirements and be descendants of former Magnolia High School students.
The organization is also working to involve younger generations to ensure its mission continues.
“We are definitely reaching out to the heirs, and they have definitely stepped up,” Seabron said.
Seabron said descendants of Magnolia High School alumni now serve as officers and committee members within the association, helping carry the organization’s work into the future.
Beyond preserving the school’s history through reunions and scholarships, the association is preparing for another milestone. A Mississippi historical marker recognizing Magnolia High School is expected to be installed on the grounds of Magnolia Middle School later this summer, although an official dedication date has not yet been announced.
According to Seabron, Magnolia High School served African American students for nearly seven decades before becoming an integrated junior high school after desegregation. The alumni association has continued preserving the school’s history through community events, educational initiatives and efforts to document its legacy for future generations.
