2023 MEMORIAL WALK

October 7-8, 2023 - The Mississippi John Hurt Foundation concludeed its 25th Anniversary celebration with a special Memorial Walk in Avalon, Mississippi. The main event was the official unveiling of a new cemetery marker at the entrance to the St. James Cemetery on October 7th. This is where Mississippi John Hurt rests alongside many family members and generations of Avalon's African American residents. The new marker was made possible through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund, funded through a grant from the American Historical Association.

The Memorial Walk marked a new chapter for the historic cemetery. After discovering its sad desecration in 2022 (read the article), Mary Frances Hurt worked tirelessly to set things right and it's time to put this terrible act behind us! After gathering at the Mississippi John Hurt Museum, we marched into the St. James Cemetery for the official unveiling of the new marker. During the two-day celebration, all were invited to share a song at the cemetery and on the steps of the Mississippi John Hurt Museum. And those who simply enjoyed listening had a lot of good music to tickle their ears!