W. H. Lanier Junior Senior High School celebrates its centennial in grand style
JANS – Several hundred alumni and guests attended the “Finale Weekend” – June 13-15, 2025 – to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Lanier Junior Senior High School, also known as 833. The theme for the momentous occasion was “W. H. Lanier: Celebrating a Century of Resilience, Excellence, and Future Possibilities.” Lanier is an institution with a rich history that has withstood the test of time through the days of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. The school’s rich history is highlighted by the accomplishments of its faculty, staff, and alumni. Among all alumni associations per capita, the Lanier High School National Alumni Association is larger and stronger than any Historically Black High School (HBHS) in the country.
The Lanier High School Centennial Steering Committee received applause throughout the “Finale Weekend” which kicked off Friday evening with a welcoming reception at the Two Mississippi Museums. On Saturday, alumni and guests gathered for a Centennial Black-Tie Gala at the Jackson Convention Complex. A Memorial Service filled with music and tributes was held Sunday in Lanier’s auditorium located at the iconic address, 833 West Maple Street, Jackson, MS 39203.
In all, the centennial celebration spanned over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, beginning in October 2024 with the annual “Wreath Laying Ceremony” at the grave site of the founder, W. H. Lanier, in the Greenwood Cemetery near downtown Jackson. The newly formed Lanier Alumni Ministerial Alliance (LAMA) led the event. The LAMA is currently expanding and consists of a group of ministers and clergy from all classes of Lanier graduates.
Activities also included a homecoming parade, pep rally, and the crowning of Mr. and Miss Lanier with their homecoming court. The events concluded with Lanier’s annual Homecoming Tailgate celebration, followed by a winning football season game. Hundreds of alumni gather for this day-long celebration each year on homecoming day. Other events included the presentation of the history of Lanier during the Black History program on February 20, 2025, at the school auditorium.
Lanier High School is named in honor of William Henry Lanier, who served as a former President of Alcorn College and was the inaugural Supervisor of Jackson Colored Public Schools. Lanier was born a slave in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1851. He attended Tougaloo College, Oberlin College, and Fisk University and received his B.A. from Roger Williams University. He served as president of Alcorn A&M for six years. Lanier taught school in Forest, Winona, Black Hawk, Carrollton, Yazoo City, and Jackson. He was principal of Robertson School from 1912 to 1929.
Lanier was first organized as a junior-senior high school in 1925, providing instruction for pupils from the seventh through the twelfth grades. A new chapter was added to the history when, on February 8, 1954, they transferred from the old Lanier at 136 East Ash Street and occupied the new Lanier Junior-Senior High School building at 833 West Maple Street. On January 27, 1972, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that Lanier School be designated as a center for 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students. In 1991, ninth-grade students were included in the enrollment.
Many Lanier students participated in the Civil Rights Movement. In 2007, Lanier was designated a Mississippi Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
The Lanier High School National Alumni Association was established in 1998 by graduates committed to their academic success. The Association is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Their mission is to support and increase the success of all students academically, economically, and socially. The LHSNAA is active and in good standing with the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy. The award-winning alumni association donates thousands of dollars annually to support student scholarships and educational needs. Several individual alumni donate funds earmarked to support sports programs and other endeavors. Alumni-owned businesses also contribute to school needs, including donating blazers to Mr. & Ms. Lanier annually. The LHSNAA has received the Governor’s Award for Exemplary Partnership in Education for five years.
