06/16/2026
Today, our founding father, Mr. Paul Clellan Dale Greenwell, was celebrated in a homegoing mass at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi. On Sunday evening, family and friends of Dale, gathered inside Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in downtown Biloxi to pay homage to this brave veteran, founder of historical societies, Mason, archaeologist, Biloxi Yacht Club member, and the first football quarterback for d'Iberville High School, to name a few. This is the speech prepared by our current president that was read in memory of Dale. Attached are some photos from the past few years in the historical society.
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Remembering Mr. d’Iberville (Historical Society) Dale Greenwell
By: Keith Wilson, President, D’Iberville Historical Society
As read on Sunday, June 14, 2026 inside Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes, Howard Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi
Friends, family, and fellow lovers of history:
My name is Keith Wilson, and I serve as president of the D’Iberville Historical Society and the North Bay Civitan Club of D’Iberville & St. Martin. I am thankful for Ms. Debbie who requested me to speak this evening in memory of our beloved Dale.
We gather tonight not just to mourn the loss of Dale Greenwell, but to celebrate a life that was deeply rooted in the preservation of our past.
Dale was more than a local historian; he was a true guardian of some of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s incredible heritage. Through his archeological discoveries, founding of the D'Iberville Historical Society, and five authored books, including the one I am holding (D’Iberville and St. Martin, Images of America), Mr. Dale ensured our region's stories will echo through generations.
Whether he was leading an archeological dig—like his remarkable discovery of the pre-historic village on Deer Island—or writing books that detailed the triumphs of our region, Dale's leadership was defined by a profound care for our collective memory. He believed that to truly know who we are, we must understand exactly where we came from.
I first met Dale as a new reporter for the former weekly newspaper, The Biloxi-D’Iberville Press. Now, Dale and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye, and there were a couple times we had our fair share of clashes.
Anyone who knew Dale knows he wasn't a man to mince words, especially when it came to his beloved history. He challenged me, he tested me, and in those early days, he could be downright exhausting. But over time, I saw the fierce conviction behind that stubbornness. I forgave his sharp edges, because I realized they came from a place of pure, unadulterated passion. And, I am forever grateful to have learned from him in this manner.
If you drive around the area known by some as either Seymour, The Five Trails, Five-Points, or today, simply old d’Iberville near the end of Central Avenue at Race Track Road, and areas west of the I-110’s Walter L. Nixon, Sr. Memorial Bridge, nine black and gold painted historical markers currently stand erect to passersby sharing some of the D’Iberville’s rich pre-city history. These markers exist primarily because of Dale!
His obsession with making our history permanently visible is exactly why Dale wanted to see the D'Iberville Historical Society launch its Historical Marker Program. He envisioned our legacy cast in iron, so it could never be forgotten.
From The Old Brick Yard, Harvey’s Hill, and Santa Cruz Land to The Crossing, The Land and Legend of the Cross, Quave Commercial Strip, and The Five Trails as well as our first marker in 2017 denoting the Original D’Iberville High School, to the most recent marker erected in late 2023 enshrining all the memories made on the site of the Original D’Iberville Community House, these markers are only part of the legacy Dale has left behind for all who visit the Gateway City.
If you walk past those markers today, you’ll see each marker is stamped proudly at the bottom, serving as an enduring testament to his teamwork and leadership, as the shared credits honor Dale’s contributions, in addition to the Society and the City. These markers also feature the head of French-Canadian Explorer Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d’Iberville. I almost have to wonder if Dale’s profile in bas-relief (a raised carving) would have been comical to him or would he have said to me, “Heck no, you won’t put me on there.”
Dale had zero patience for apathy. He used to tell me that people who didn’t care about our local history were "living like ghosts in a house they didn’t build"—reaping the benefits of the Coast without bothering to look down at the foundation beneath their feet. To Dale, ignoring the past wasn't just lazy; it was a betrayal of the people who sweat, bled, and built this community. I learned quick, you really never could say no to “Mr. d’Iberville”.
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the D'Iberville Historical Society becoming official on paper with the State of Mississippi. Dale was our founding father. A few years ago, we enacted the Dale Greenwell Presidential Scholarship to honor his contributions and recognize deserving student leaders who were also interested in history, genealogy, archaeology, and more.
Dale once showed me at his home many items that he has preserved over the years. Nonetheless, Dale did more than just collect dusty artifacts. He brought people together. He made the history of D'Iberville and the broader Gulf Coast come alive. He invited us to dig in the dirt, to ask questions, and to take pride in our roots.
After knowing Dale for the past ten years, I have come to realize that his leadership was generous and his passion for local history was infectious. Because of him, the stories of our ancestors, our indigenous peoples, war veterans, and the founding of our coastal towns are preserved for our children and our grandchildren and their children and their children...
Dale may have set his sails for a new horizon, but the trail he blazed through our local history remains clear and enduring.
On behalf of the D’Iberville Historical Society, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak about this incredibly dedicated man and the knowledge that he held. We share our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences with Ms. Debbie and the entire Greenwell family.
And, I’d be remiss not to mention that a team of historians, educators, and other board members such as myself gathered on Friday, June 12 in Jackson and via virtual meeting online for the Mississippi Historical Society’s board meeting. The society’s board unanimously agreed to adjourn its meeting in memory of Dale.
Lastly, I want to say once more. Thank you, Dale, for saving our history, for keeping this former newspaper reporter on my toes, and for leaving our community far richer than you found it.
May he rest in peace. And may peace be with you all. Thank you.
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