If you’re looking to learn more about Mississippi’s history and the Civil Rights movement in a cost-efficient manner, next Friday is a perfect opportunity to do so.
The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson will be offering free admission to the public on Feb. 21 in honor of the late Gov. William Winter. The free admission is made possible by Jones Walker LLP, which acquired Watkins, Ludlam, Winter, and Stennis, where Winter worked for over 50 years.
“We are honored to acknowledge the contributions of Governor and First Lady Winter by facilitating access to the Two Mississippi Museums,” Jones Walker LLP managing partner Bill Hines said. “We trust visitors will come away with an understanding of their passion for Mississippi’s history and their dedication to educating future generations.”
Known for his staunch support for public education in Mississippi, Winter helped raise endowment funds to bring Mississippi’s school children to the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
Per a release from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Two Mississippi Museums stand at the intersection of Winter’s greatest passions — history, education, and racial justice. He was a leading force behind the public and private partnerships that created the site’s conception and eventual construction.
Winter served on the MDAH Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and was president for nearly the same amount of time. He died on Dec.18, 2020, at the age of 97. Elise Winter, his wife of 70 years who was a community activist and author, died just seven months after her husband on July 17, 2021.
The Foundation for Mississippi History established The William and Elise Winter Education Endowment to memorialize Mississippi’s former governor and first lady and their commitment to education and preservation. Funds are used to defray costs such as admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students.
