Simpson County Historical & Genealogical Society

Simpson County Historical & Genealogical Society The Simpson Co. Historical & Genealogical Society exists to promote our county's history & heritage.

Lloyd Franklin Stephens Sr. and my grandmother Sarah Fannie Shows Upton (1901-1977) were Mendenhall school friends at ar...
06/06/2026

Lloyd Franklin Stephens Sr. and my grandmother Sarah Fannie Shows Upton (1901-1977) were Mendenhall school friends at around 1916. They went on a chaperoned carriage ride together and the moment was so important it was captured in a rare photograph. My grandmother is wearing a sailor's outfit with a boater straw-hat.

They look embarrassed.

The original photo and an AI enhanced copy.

Walter Dent "Farmer" May (1911-1982)This image was used in his campaign for representative in the lower house of the Sta...
06/05/2026

Walter Dent "Farmer" May (1911-1982)

This image was used in his campaign for representative in the lower house of the State Legislature in 1935. He won and served one term.

He served as a commissioned officer in World War II with the 41st Armored Regiment, 11th Armored Division, serving in the European theater of the war.

John Day Smith (1895-1974)This image was used by his campaign for re-election to county Chancery Clerk in 1935.Five term...
06/05/2026

John Day Smith (1895-1974)

This image was used by his campaign for re-election to county Chancery Clerk in 1935.

Five terms as the State Highway Commissioner for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Two terms as Simpson County Sheriff.
Two Terms as county Chancery Clerk.

AI enhanced image of Magee Courier photo. Good Copy.

Reverand Charles William Black (1888-1974)This image was used in his campaign for representative in the lower house of t...
06/05/2026

Reverand Charles William Black (1888-1974)

This image was used in his campaign for representative in the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature in 1935.

Rev. Black was from Shivers, Simpson County, Mississippi.

Hulon Banks Brown (1897-1966)This photo was used for his campaign for Simpson County sheriff in 1935. He previously was ...
06/05/2026

Hulon Banks Brown (1897-1966)

This photo was used for his campaign for Simpson County sheriff in 1935. He previously was elected to three terms as a member of the Mendenhall Town Board of Alderman, and elected mayor of the Town of Mendenhall.

AI enhanced image of a Magee Courier photo. Good copy.

Honorable Lloyd Franklin Stephens Sr. (1900-1983)This photo was used during his campaign for county tax assessor in 1935...
06/05/2026

Honorable Lloyd Franklin Stephens Sr. (1900-1983)

This photo was used during his campaign for county tax assessor in 1935, however, it is the same photo he used in his 1927 campaign for county circuit clerk. He was, at the time, the youngest man to be elected to office in Simpson County having won the election for county circuit clerk in the 1923 at age twenty-two; he served three consecutive terms in this capacity.

He and his son L. F. Stephens Jr. owned the most popular clothing stores in Mendenhall, Stephens Mercantile Company, opening in the early 1940s.

AI enhanced image. Good copy.

Miss Ada Duckworth (1901-1989)Taken before her marriage to Charles Byrd Griffith in 1936 this photo was taken during her...
06/05/2026

Miss Ada Duckworth (1901-1989)

Taken before her marriage to Charles Byrd Griffith in 1936 this photo was taken during her campaign for county chancery clerk.

Graduated Mendenhall High School.
Graduated State Teachers College, Hattiesburg.
Graduated Peabody College, Nashville.
Taught school for two years.
Mendenhall Postmaster for five years.
Employee at the Magee Post Office.
Simpson County DEPUTY SHERIFF for two years working for her father Sheriff D. W. Duckworth.
Social worker, doing Home Demonstration work in Lamar, Jefferson Davis and Marion Counties.

The Duckworth building in Mendenhall is named for her.

AI enhanced image of Magee Courier photo. Good copy.

Frank D. Grantham (1891-1971)Photo used for his campaign for county chancery clerk in 1935.AI enhanced of Magee Courier ...
06/05/2026

Frank D. Grantham (1891-1971)

Photo used for his campaign for county chancery clerk in 1935.

AI enhanced of Magee Courier photo. Good copy.

Plummer J. Turner Sr. (1883-1963)Photo was used in his campaign for county sheriff in 1935.AI enhanced Magee Courier pho...
06/05/2026

Plummer J. Turner Sr. (1883-1963)

Photo was used in his campaign for county sheriff in 1935.

AI enhanced Magee Courier photo. Good copy.

06/04/2026

Help from Genealogist - Simpson County Church/Cemetery experts.

Looking for the location of the Mountain Hill Baptist Church. It was established in Simpson County around the year 1840 and lasted until the turn of the century in 1900. It was located in an area called the Kennedy Community (I assume related to the Rhesa Kennedy family). This would be in Township 2 Range 5 south of the Strong River somewhere near Floyd's Bridge, Fayette Hill, Asha P.O., and May Mill. It was an old church and may have had a cemetery.

I found a deed for the church given by Charles P. Gregory in 1880, unfortunately the writer assumed the reader would know where the location was because there are no township-section coordinates.

Mountain Hill Church became the official polling place for the Mountain Hill Voting Precinct which lasted several decades until the precinct was moved to Everett in the year 1904. Mountain Hill Church also moved once around 1890 but was still in the general area.

Address

150 West Court Avenue, P. O. Box 154
Mendenhall, MS
39114

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