On March 2, 2026, the West Jackson community gathered near Jackson State University under a clear blue sky to witness a long-overdue honor. Dalton Street, from Dr. Robert Smith Parkway to Central Street, was officially designated in honor of Hezekiah Watkins, the youngest Freedom Rider, a community cornerstone, and one of Jackson's most enduring living legends. The morning drew elected officials, educators, neighbors, young people, and coworkers, all turning out to celebrate a man whose life of service has quietly shaped this city for decades.

From a 13-Year-Old Boy to a Civil Rights Icon

Watkins' story is one Jackson has been learning to tell more fully in recent years. In 1961, a curious 13-year-old boy bicycled to Jackson's Greyhound station to catch a glimpse of the Freedom Riders and was wrongly arrested and sent to Parchman Prison, where he was held on death row. Rather than bitterness, that injustice sparked a lifetime of service. Watkins went on to be jailed more than 100 times for civil rights activism and once shared a jail cell with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

City of Jackson Chief Administrative Officer Peter Teeuwissen placed Watkins in the company of Mississippi's most celebrated civil rights figures. "We talk a fair amount about James Meredith, and we should," Teeuwissen said. "[former Supreme Court Justice] Reuben Anderson said there was no braver man in Mississippi. But I'm here to tell you, if James Meredith is the bravest man, this man is right there with them."

Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley, whose ward encompasses the West Jackson neighborhood where Watkins built his legacy, offered a tribute that framed the designation's meaning for future generations. "When this is finished, we will have our young kids riding their bikes through the community," Hartley said. "They will see that sign, and they can remember a 13-year-old just like them made a difference in this world."

State Representative Zakia Summers, who visited Parchman Prison recently, reflected on what it meant to stand in Watkins' honor. "What was meant for his bad turned out to be for his good. He's able to tell the story of courage. He's able to tell the story of victory."

The Corner Spot: A Community Built on Service

The designated stretch of Dalton Street runs near The Corner Spot, the store Watkins operated for years in the heart of West Jackson. There, he fed children, extended credit to families who couldn't afford groceries, ran summer enrichment programs, and served as a neighborhood anchor through decades of change.

Chris Watkins, Hezekiah's wife, spoke movingly about the full weight of what her husband poured into this block. "This community was his life," she said. "He poured 1,000% into this community. Any day, I could go home and would not have electricity, because it'd been cut off, because he put the money back into this community and this store." She described a man who partnered with law enforcement to address crime so that elders could sit on their porches in peace and children could move freely through the neighborhood. "This was our home," she said. "And it still is."

Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums, noted that Watkins's impact extends well beyond West Jackson. "We are so fortunate to have Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, who is there most days, sharing his incredible story of resilience and his fight for justice," Morris said, adding that the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum has become one of the top tourist destinations in the state.

Living History, Walking Among Us

Visit Jackson President and CEO Rickey Thigpen, who has known the Watkins family since his first day at the Jackson Convention and Business Bureau in 1987, reflected on what this moment means for the city's story. "Now I get a chance to not only know your story, but to share your story with the world," Thigpen said. "Thank you for allowing your adopted home, Jackson, to become a major impact — a symbol of hope for this nation and the world."

Watkins himself, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren, was visibly moved by the outpouring. "I am humbled," he told the crowd. "I see so many of my coworkers. I had no idea my coworkers would be coming out here this morning. That means a lot."

Today, Watkins continues to share his story as a docent at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, greeting visitors each Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and noon. The sign bearing his name, located more prominently on the Robert Smith Parkway, ensures that future generations passing through West Jackson will know the name and the story of a boy who accidentally changed history, and a man who spent the rest of his life making sure it was never forgotten.