List of mayors of Jackson, Mississippi facts for kids

The Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi is an important leader for the city. This job started in 1834. At first, the person in charge was called the "President of Selectmen." Later, the title changed to "Mayor."

In 1997, Harvey Johnson Jr. made history. He was elected as Jackson's first African American mayor. Since then, all the mayors of Jackson have also been African American. These leaders help guide the city and make decisions for everyone who lives there.

Early Leaders: Presidents of Selectmen

Before the title "Mayor" was used, the city's top leader was called the President of Selectmen. This was like an early version of the mayor. These leaders helped manage Jackson in its very first years.

Mayors of Jackson

The title changed to "Mayor" in 1839. Since then, many people have served in this important role. They have helped shape Jackson into the city it is today.

Image	Mayor	Years in Office	Notes
	John P. Oldham	1839
	H.R. McDonald	1840
	John P. Oldham (2nd term)	1840–1841
	James H. Boyd	1842–1843
	John P. Oldham (3rd term)	1844–1849
	James H. Boyd (2nd term)	1850
	J.P. Jones	1851
	William H. Taylor	1852–1853
	Richard Fletcher	1854
	William H. Taylor (2nd term)	1855–1857
	James H. Boyd (3rd term)	1858
	W.A. Purdom	1859
	Richard C. Kerr	1860–1861
	Charles Henry Manship	1862–1863
	D.N. Barrows	1864–1867
	Maj. Thomas H. Norton	1868	An officer from the Union Army appointed as mayor.
	Bvt. Lt. Col. James Biddle	1868	An officer from the Union Army appointed as mayor.
	Col. James P. Sessions	1868–1869	A former Confederate officer.
	Rhesa Hatcher	1869
	Bvt. Lt. Col. Joseph G. Crane	1869	An officer from the Union Army appointed as mayor.
	Captain F.A. Field	1869	An officer from the Union Army appointed as mayor.
	A. Way Kelly	1869
	E. W. Cabaniss	1869–1870
	Oliver Clifton	1870–1871
	Rhesa Hatcher (2nd term)	1871–1872
	Marion Smith	1872–1874
	John McGill	1874–1888
	William Henry	1888–1893
	L.F. Chiles	1893–1895	He also served as a deputy sheriff and alderman.
	Oliver Clifton (2nd term)	1895–1897
	Ramsey Wharton	1897–1899
	H.M. Taylor	1899
	W.W. Morrison	1899	Served as temporary Mayor.
	John W. Todd	1899–1901
	William Hemingway	1901–1905
	Oliver Clifton † (3rd term)	1905	Passed away before starting his term.
	Ramsey Wharton † (2nd term)	1905 – November 1908	Passed away while in office.
	A.C. Crowder	1909–1913
	Swepson James Taylor	1913–1917
	Walter A. Scott	1917–1945
	Leland L. Speed	1945–1949
	Allen C. Thompson	1949–1969
	Russell C. Davis	1969–1977
	Dale Danks	1977–1989
	J. Kane Ditto	1989–1997
	Harvey Johnson, Jr.	1997–2005	Jackson's first African American Mayor.
	Frank Melton †	2005–2009	Passed away while in office.
	Leslie B. McLemore	2009	Served as a temporary mayor.
	Harvey Johnson Jr. (2nd term)	2009–2013
	Chokwe Lumumba †	2013–2014	Passed away while in office.
	Charles Tillman	2014
	Tony Yarber	2014–2017
	Chokwe Antar Lumumba	2017–2025
	John Horhn	2025–present

See also

• Timeline of Jackson, Mississippi

Additional sources

• Brinson, Carroll. Jackson/A Special Kind of Place. Jackson, MS: City of Jackson, 1977.