Marian Allen Receives 2026 Education & Advocacy Award

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HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss.(THN News) — Marian Allen, founder and director of the Laurel Jones County Black History Museum and Arts, has been honored with the 2026 Education & Advocacy Award by the Lafayette Community Remembrance Project (LCRP).

The award recognizes Allen’s commitment to preserving African American history, educating the public, advocating for historical truth, and strengthening community remembrance efforts.

According to the Lafayette Community Remembrance Project, its annual awards recognize individuals whose work demonstrates a commitment to “memory, justice, truth-telling, and community.” Allen was selected for her continuing work in education and advocacy.

Allen received the honor during the closing events of the 2026 Memorialization Gathering: “Descendants: What We Inherit,” held September 25–27 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. The gathering brought together historians, educators, descendants, community leaders, preservationists, and other practitioners involved in community-led memorialization.

The award presentation took place during the Closing Brunch on Sunday, September 27, at FoxFire Ranch in Holly Springs. The weekend also included activities at Rust College and historic locations throughout Holly Springs and Marshall County.

Allen founded the Laurel Jones County Black History Museum and Arts to preserve and share the often-overlooked stories of African Americans in Laurel, Jones County, and Mississippi. Her historical preservation work includes education about the 1919 lynching of John Hartfield in Ellisville and efforts to ensure that difficult chapters of local history are remembered and discussed by future generations.

The museum began as a mobile Black history exhibit in 1999 before establishing a permanent museum location in Laurel in 2023. Through exhibits, historical tours, educational programs, artifacts, community events, and partnerships, Allen has worked to make local African American history accessible to both young people and adults.

“This award represents more than an individual accomplishment,” Allen said. “It represents the ancestors whose stories deserve to be remembered, the families who entrusted us with their history, and the community that continues to support the work of preserving our heritage. I am deeply honored to receive the 2026 Education & Advocacy Award.”

In addition to her work with the museum, Allen serves as a Laurel City Councilwoman representing Ward 7 and has remained active in community education, youth development, ministry, social work, and historical preservation.

The 2026 Memorialization Gathering focused on the theme “Descendants: What We Inherit,” examining the relationship between history, descendants, land, legacy, preservation, and community memory.

For Allen, the recognition reinforces a mission that has guided her work for decades: preserving the past, educating the present, and ensuring that future generations understand the people and events that shaped their community.

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