Gulfport Students Host Annual Cemetery History Tour
Local students shared research on area history with community members during a guided tour at the Mississippi City Cemetery.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Students from Pass Road and Central Elementary hosted the 12th annual cemetery tour at the Mississippi City Cemetery. The event showcased student research into local figures to connect families and community members with regional history.
Why it matters
This long-standing student project strengthens intergenerational ties and helps families in Gulfport engage directly with their local history. By researching ancestral stories, students gain a deeper understanding of the individuals who shaped the city.
This marked the 12th year of the cemetery tour, which saw students from Pass Road and Central Elementary presenting findings at the Mississippi City Cemetery. The event drew city leaders and family members to honor local figures like the late co-owner of Turner's Café.
The players
Historical Society of Gulfport
A local organization that preserves regional archives and collaborates with educators to provide historical context.
Vanessa Turner
An attendee of the event who engaged with the students' research into community ancestry.
George Turner
The late co-owner of Turner's Café on Victory Street who was featured as a subject of student research.
The details
To prepare for the tour, students conducted deep dives into local history by consulting old newspapers, formal documents, and obituaries. They also engaged in conversations with relatives of local figures to gather personal ancestral stories. Through a partnership with the Historical Society of Gulfport, students learned how to verify historical accounts before presenting their findings to the public.
Timeline
Friday morning, October 23, 2026.
The Home Front
This project exemplifies the place-based learning model, which uses a community's unique history and environment to anchor core curriculum goals. Such initiatives turn local cemeteries and landmarks into accessible archives that foster a stronger sense of shared identity among neighbors.
Parents and local families can use these tours as a starting point to begin their own genealogical research at home using archived newspapers and family documents. Consider reaching out to the Historical Society of Gulfport if your family has questions about local history or neighborhood records.
The takeaway
Engaging with local history helps students and families preserve the stories that define their community. Residents are encouraged to document their own family narratives and share them with younger generations to maintain these valuable intergenerational connections.
Further reading
For more on how local schools connect students with history, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wlox.
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