Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden - Ruleville, MS

When Fannie Lou Hamer was dying in the winter of 1977, she had one last wish for her fellow Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee activist and friend, Charles McLaurin: “Mac, don’t let them bury me on a plantation.” And with those parting words, McLaurin moved heaven and earth to redeem Hamer’s final wish. 

For several years, Hamer and her husband’s grave sat inconspicuously off of State Highway 8. But thanks to McLaurin’s fundraising acumen and vision, he helped transform this lonely area into a vibrant park with a beautiful bronze statue dedicated to Hamer on what would have been her 95th birthday in October 2012. 

However, Hamer’s final resting place was not without tragedy and controversy. Three years after her death, her tombstone and the bronze plaque marking the site were stolen. And vandals left only the concrete casing covering Hamer’s grave and they damaged the picket fence surrounding the area. 

Local officials wanted to ensure the site would become a proper memorial to Hamer. But they could not agree on the design and whether or not the city of Ruleville would oversee maintenance on the 150 by 300-foot plot of land. 

Nearly 30 years after her death, the Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden and Park became a reality with the help of a $100,000 Community Development Block grant. Plans for the park included a water fountain, a 40-foot pavilion, walkways, lighting and a wrought iron fence surrounding the park. A dedication ceremony was held in May 2002. 

In May 2011, a Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker was installed there honoring Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer was the first woman honored with the historical marker. In October 2012, a life-size statue of Hamer was unveiled at the park and in 2024, a parking lot to accommodate visitors to the park was completed.  

Hundreds of visitors visit the park annually.

(VIDEO TO BE ADDED SOON!)