Appeared in The SunHerald Newspaper October 6, 2013
Headstone marks resting place of Elizabeth H. Keys, prominent black educator in Ocean Springs
By GENE COLEMAN — Special to the Sun Herald
Elizabeth H. Keys, a prominent black educator in Ocean Springs, will no longer lie in an unmarked grave, thanks to a donated headstone unveiled Monday night.
Keys, originally Elizabeth H. Smith, moved to Ocean Springs in 1917 to begin a teaching career. She began teaching at the city's first black school and soon married Marshall Keys, who was the assistant principal. Elizabeth Keys became principal in 1943 and was still working when the school was named for her in 1958.
Deanne Newer, associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, studied the history of the school and Keys. The school's name changed over the years with integration and the growth of the school system and is now the E.H. Keys Alternative Education Center. Newer said she hopes Keys' full name will be returned to the school.
"I think that name Elizabeth H. Keys should remain in Ocean Springs very proudly," Newer said. "She left a legacy and legislation for us all to follow. She really was truly a great lady."
Judy Dalgo, an instructor of health science studies at Ocean Springs High School, taught for nine years at the school when it was E.H. Keys Vocational-Technical School. Last year she led a project in which her students interviewed former students and educators from the school to record their oral histories that were funded through a grant by the Mississippi Humanities Council and are on file with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, as well as USM in Hattiesburg.
During that time, Newer discovered that Keys died with no family to speak for her. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs in an unmarked family plot. When Dalgo asked her students to help raise funds for a marker, student Sanders Edmonson offered to donate a marker from his family's quarry.
The ceremony for unveiling the headstone was attended by former students and teachers from the school. The evening included a presentation on Keys' family history and a viewing of clips from the oral histories.
Former student Jeanne Megs, who was a homecoming queen at the high school, said there are no words to meet her level of gratitude for Sanders' contribution and all others who were involved in memorializing the school and Keys' legacy.
"Thank you does not seem adequate for what he has done for us," Megs said. "For all the students, wow, I'm not a teacher but if I was, all of your grades would be A-plus-plus."
Headstone marks resting place of Elizabeth H. Keys, prominent black educator in Ocean Springs
By GENE COLEMAN — Special to the Sun Herald
Elizabeth H. Keys, a prominent black educator in Ocean Springs, will no longer lie in an unmarked grave, thanks to a donated headstone unveiled Monday night.
Keys, originally Elizabeth H. Smith, moved to Ocean Springs in 1917 to begin a teaching career. She began teaching at the city's first black school and soon married Marshall Keys, who was the assistant principal. Elizabeth Keys became principal in 1943 and was still working when the school was named for her in 1958.
Deanne Newer, associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, studied the history of the school and Keys. The school's name changed over the years with integration and the growth of the school system and is now the E.H. Keys Alternative Education Center. Newer said she hopes Keys' full name will be returned to the school.
"I think that name Elizabeth H. Keys should remain in Ocean Springs very proudly," Newer said. "She left a legacy and legislation for us all to follow. She really was truly a great lady."
Judy Dalgo, an instructor of health science studies at Ocean Springs High School, taught for nine years at the school when it was E.H. Keys Vocational-Technical School. Last year she led a project in which her students interviewed former students and educators from the school to record their oral histories that were funded through a grant by the Mississippi Humanities Council and are on file with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, as well as USM in Hattiesburg.
During that time, Newer discovered that Keys died with no family to speak for her. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs in an unmarked family plot. When Dalgo asked her students to help raise funds for a marker, student Sanders Edmonson offered to donate a marker from his family's quarry.
The ceremony for unveiling the headstone was attended by former students and teachers from the school. The evening included a presentation on Keys' family history and a viewing of clips from the oral histories.
Former student Jeanne Megs, who was a homecoming queen at the high school, said there are no words to meet her level of gratitude for Sanders' contribution and all others who were involved in memorializing the school and Keys' legacy.
"Thank you does not seem adequate for what he has done for us," Megs said. "For all the students, wow, I'm not a teacher but if I was, all of your grades would be A-plus-plus."
Appeared in The SunHerald Newspaper October 6, 2013
Headstone marks resting place of Elizabeth H. Keys, prominent black educator in Ocean Springs
By GENE COLEMAN — Special to the Sun Herald
Elizabeth H. Keys, a prominent black educator in Ocean Springs, will no longer lie in an unmarked grave, thanks to a donated headstone unveiled Monday night.
Keys, originally Elizabeth H. Smith, moved to Ocean Springs in 1917 to begin a teaching career. She began teaching at the city's first black school and soon married Marshall Keys, who was the assistant principal. Elizabeth Keys became principal in 1943 and was still working when the school was named for her in 1958.
Deanne Newer, associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, studied the history of the school and Keys. The school's name changed over the years with integration and the growth of the school system and is now the E.H. Keys Alternative Education Center. Newer said she hopes Keys' full name will be returned to the school.
"I think that name Elizabeth H. Keys should remain in Ocean Springs very proudly," Newer said. "She left a legacy and legislation for us all to follow. She really was truly a great lady."
Judy Dalgo, an instructor of health science studies at Ocean Springs High School, taught for nine years at the school when it was E.H. Keys Vocational-Technical School. Last year she led a project in which her students interviewed former students and educators from the school to record their oral histories that were funded through a grant by the Mississippi Humanities Council and are on file with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, as well as USM in Hattiesburg.
During that time, Newer discovered that Keys died with no family to speak for her. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs in an unmarked family plot. When Dalgo asked her students to help raise funds for a marker, student Sanders Edmonson offered to donate a marker from his family's quarry.
The ceremony for unveiling the headstone was attended by former students and teachers from the school. The evening included a presentation on Keys' family history and a viewing of clips from the oral histories.
Former student Jeanne Megs, who was a homecoming queen at the high school, said there are no words to meet her level of gratitude for Sanders' contribution and all others who were involved in memorializing the school and Keys' legacy.
"Thank you does not seem adequate for what he has done for us," Megs said. "For all the students, wow, I'm not a teacher but if I was, all of your grades would be A-plus-plus."
Headstone marks resting place of Elizabeth H. Keys, prominent black educator in Ocean Springs
By GENE COLEMAN — Special to the Sun Herald
Elizabeth H. Keys, a prominent black educator in Ocean Springs, will no longer lie in an unmarked grave, thanks to a donated headstone unveiled Monday night.
Keys, originally Elizabeth H. Smith, moved to Ocean Springs in 1917 to begin a teaching career. She began teaching at the city's first black school and soon married Marshall Keys, who was the assistant principal. Elizabeth Keys became principal in 1943 and was still working when the school was named for her in 1958.
Deanne Newer, associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, studied the history of the school and Keys. The school's name changed over the years with integration and the growth of the school system and is now the E.H. Keys Alternative Education Center. Newer said she hopes Keys' full name will be returned to the school.
"I think that name Elizabeth H. Keys should remain in Ocean Springs very proudly," Newer said. "She left a legacy and legislation for us all to follow. She really was truly a great lady."
Judy Dalgo, an instructor of health science studies at Ocean Springs High School, taught for nine years at the school when it was E.H. Keys Vocational-Technical School. Last year she led a project in which her students interviewed former students and educators from the school to record their oral histories that were funded through a grant by the Mississippi Humanities Council and are on file with the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, as well as USM in Hattiesburg.
During that time, Newer discovered that Keys died with no family to speak for her. She is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs in an unmarked family plot. When Dalgo asked her students to help raise funds for a marker, student Sanders Edmonson offered to donate a marker from his family's quarry.
The ceremony for unveiling the headstone was attended by former students and teachers from the school. The evening included a presentation on Keys' family history and a viewing of clips from the oral histories.
Former student Jeanne Megs, who was a homecoming queen at the high school, said there are no words to meet her level of gratitude for Sanders' contribution and all others who were involved in memorializing the school and Keys' legacy.
"Thank you does not seem adequate for what he has done for us," Megs said. "For all the students, wow, I'm not a teacher but if I was, all of your grades would be A-plus-plus."
Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF A DEDICATED EDUCATOR
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
