Descendants of B. F. Ford unveil state historical marker at school named for him

Descendants of pioneering African-American educator B. F. Ford unveiled a state historical marker at noon today, Feb. 10, at the New Albany school campus named for him.

The Union County Heritage Museum sponsored the event, which is a part of the museum’s work to document the history of the school.  Museum Director Jill Smith is  gathering photographs and other memorabilia about B. F. School and other Union County schools that educated African-American students before desegregation in the late 1960s.

Union Co. Heritage Museum Director Jill Smith, Cheryl Brewer Davis, and Gwen Ford Washington prepare to unveil marker.

An exhibit of the materials gathered thus far will open at the museum at noon tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 11. The museum continues to seek materials about those schools. Anyone who is willing to give or lend materials about the education of African-Americans in Union County before desegregation is asked to call the museum at 662-538-0014.

About 175 people, including a large contingent of students from New Albany Middle School attended the unveiling of the B.F. Ford historical marker. The inscription on the marker reads:

“B. F. FORD SCHOOL. In 1912 the New Albany School Board established the Union County Training School at this site. After the original building burned, a new school was constructed in 1948. Designed by architect Robert McKnight, this streamlined Art Moderne-style building was the main high school for African-Americans in New Albany until the end of segregation in the late 1960s. The school was named for Benjamin F. Ford, who was principal from 1921 until his death in 1950 and oversaw construction of the new school. Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 2021.”

B. F. Ford School historic marker, New Albany, MS.

Two direct descendants of B. F. Ford, Cheryl Brewer Davis, a great-granddaughter, and a granddaughter, Gwen Ford Washington, unveiled the marker.

The Union County Heritage Museum has been widely recognized  as among the top small city museums in the United States. It is located at 114 Cleveland Street in New Albany.

More about African American Education exhibit at museum: https://newalbanyunionco.com/museum-seeking-photos-and-objects-for-upcoming-b-f-ford-school-exhibit/