Lanier High School celebrates Homecoming 2026 in university style
By Ceagus Reed
JA Guest Writer
On the heels of its 100th anniversary, Lanier Junior-Senior High School alumni, family, and friends “turned up” to celebrate Homecoming 2026 with a bang. Homecoming Day fell on September 11, a date that carries special significance in American history. For the Lanier community, the day provided an opportunity to celebrate resilience and tradition. “This day gave special purpose to our celebration,” said Coach Thomas Cheatham, a 1959 graduate of Lanier. “This day gave us an opportunity to celebrate in the face of adversity. We are a resilient nation, and so is the 833 Nation of Lanier High.”
Although Homecoming Day was September 11, the 2026 celebration mirrored last year’s centennial festivities with a weeklong series of events. Over the course of six days, alumni, staff, students, and community members participated in five major events leading up to the Homecoming Game.
W. H. Lanier Wreath-Laying Ceremony (Sept. 6)
Homecoming Week opened with the William Henry Lanier Founder’s Day celebration and a wreath-laying ceremony. At its regular meeting, the Jackson City Council proclaimed September 6 as W. H. Lanier Day. The proclamation was led by Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes, a 1973 Lanier graduate.
The wreath-laying ceremony featured the Lanier Class of 1970, which was actively preparing activities for Homecoming Week. The class provided its newly purchased tent to shelter participants during the ceremony.
Minister Clement Bolton, class of 1970, delivered the invocation, while Rev. Dr. Johnny Hughes, a former principal of Lanier and a member of the Lanier class of 1970, delivered the closing remarks and benediction. Greetings were offered by Dr. Stacey Webb, principal of Lanier, and Ceagus Reed, a member of the Class of 1969.
The Lanier High School choir ensemble delivered two moving musical performances. Dr. Webb and Lee A. Bernard, a member of the Class of 1968, shared the honor of laying the wreath at Mr. Lanier’s grave. (Of special note, Mary Jones, Class of 1970, designed and donated a beautiful wreath adorned with maroon and white flowers.) The nine-member ensemble is directed by Conesha Washington-Barron, the school’s choir director. The ensemble consisted of choir officers and members include: Cameelah Kelly, President; Rayveon Clark, Treasurer; Dewayne Yates, Secretary; Chyna Collins, Vice President and Miss Choir; Arthur Robinson, Mr. Choir; Naveah Jenkins, Student Director; Journee McLaurin, Member; Micah Fleming, Member; and Kyle Lee, Member.
The choir is preparing for a tour of New York City this spring and has begun an ongoing fundraising campaign. Ms. Washington-Barron recalled her own experience as a high school student, saying, “I remember being taken on the New York tour when I was in high school – it changed the way I looked at the world because all of the pictures became real.” She said she would like her students to have the same experience. (For choir donations, please email Lanier Choir Booster Club President, Cameo Kelly, LJSHchoir26@gmail.com). Parents of the choir members were also among those attending the celebration.
Nick Walters, public relations coordinator and spokesperson for Greenwood Cemetery, offered remarks accompanied by cemetery representatives Cecile Wardlaw, executive director, and Jim Rosenblat, board chairman. Walters said, “It is an honor to have Professor Lanier as one of the residents of Greenwood Cemetery.” It was noted that Wardlaw had planted two rose bushes, one on each side of Mr. Lanier’s grave, added a bench, and arranged for his slightly sunken headstone to be raised and leveled.
The moving ceremony concluded with the school song, “Lanier Dear,” led by Rev. Dr. Leon Bracey, a 1973 Lanier graduate and chair of the Lanier Alumni Ministerial Alliance.
Coronation
Ceremony (Sept. 9)
The grand celebration continued the evening of Sept. 9 with the Homecoming Coronation Ceremony. The JROTC opened the program by posting the flags and colors. Students representing each class level and many of the school’s auxiliary organizations were highlights of the evening gala. Mr. and Miss Lanier were crowned as the Homecoming Court made its formal entrance in dresses and tuxedos, dazzling the school auditorium. Proud parents, family members, and supporters gathered to celebrate the students.
The Royal Court included Mr. Lanier, Darrell Roberts; Miss Lanier, Maddisyn Summers; Mr. Lanier Jr. High, Korrion Washington; Miss Lanier Jr. High, Zamiya Edwards; Mr. Bulldog, Jakari White; Miss Bulldog, Jacari Penn; Mr. Senior, Nico Moore Jr., Miss Senior, Addison Green; Mr. Junior, Charles Irvin; Miss Junior, Regina Eubanks; Mr. Sophomore, Cameron Rankins; Miss Sophomore, Trinity Henderson; Mr. Freshman, Josiah Cayson; Miss Freshman, Delilah Bogan; Mr. 8th Grade, Kennari Christmas; Miss 8th Grade, Kylin Mitchell; Mr. 7th Grade, Ja’Mari Smith; Miss 7th Grade, Ja’Liyah Griffin; Homecoming King, Cyon Bilbrew; Homecoming Queen, Zakeria Jefferson; Senior Maids: Janiylah Ballard, Je’Nila Doss, and Caniyah Joiner; and Senior Duke, Jeremy Yarbrough.
Michelle Henry, office assistant at Lanier Junior-Senior High School, served as mistress of ceremonies and did an outstanding job describing the unique characteristics and experiences of each student. Class sponsors were on hand as Principal Webb crowned Mr. and Miss Lanier and each of the class representatives.
Annual Homecoming Parade (Sept. 10)
The Homecoming Parade brought alumni, students, and community members together throughout the Lanier neighborhood. One parade participant was overheard saying, “It’s like last year never ended.” The entire royal court, along with other students and alumni, participated in the parade. Participants rode in convertibles, on floats, pickup trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Marching drill teams and other groups joined the festivities, with the fantastic 833 Lanier Bulldog Band providing a memorable musical finish to the parade.
Lanier Homecoming 2026 Tailgate (Sept. 11)
Only those who have experienced a Lanier 833 Nation Homecoming can fully appreciate the magnitude of the event. Each year, Cherry Grove Baptist Church makes its nearly three-acre property available to Lanier alumni for the annual tailgate celebration. According to Dr. Marek Walker, pastor of Cherry Grove, more than 100 plots were leased to alumni groups. Classes spanning eight decades were represented at the affair. “It was like seeing a college or university celebration,” Pastor Walker said. Former Lanier classes and families pitched tents and brought trailers with barbecue grills and equipment for the all-day celebration. Many groups began setting up at sunrise.
The most senior class represented as a group was the Class of 1959. “We’ve still got it,” remarked Coach Thomas Cheatham, Class of 1959. The group had its motor home parked next to its tent. Cooking out and camping with modern conveniences nearby was the motto of the class.
Another group hosted a completely enclosed, clear, air-conditioned tent. Other classes decorated their tents with their graduating class years prominently displayed. Nearby, just across from the tailgaters, members of the Class of 1969 celebrated at the “home-house” of one of their classmates. The 833 Nation tent was also set up to provide alumni and supporters with Lanier 833 Bulldog apparel, accessories, and memorabilia.
It was estimated that more than 2,000 people “turned up” throughout the day for the grand affair. As tailgaters departed, many were overheard saying, “I can’t wait until next year!”
Homecoming
Game (Sept. 11)
The Homecoming Game began at 7 p.m. at Hughes Field, where the Lanier Bulldogs defeated the Jim Hill Tigers 41-0. As Head Coach Tommy Kelly begins his third year at Lanier, fans are anticipating another winning season. The Bulldogs have advanced to the postseason playoffs each year since Coach Kelly joined the program. Game highlights included an early touchdown by Lanier quarterback Daryl (Darrell) Roberts, who scored on the game’s opening possession. Contavious Christmas blocked a Jim Hill punt, which Nate Roberts recovered and returned for a touchdown. Lanier’s defense completely shut down the Jim Hill offense. During halftime, the Homecoming Court took “center stage” and received a grand ovation from the well-populated crowd. The decisive victory provided the final highlight of Lanier’s 2026 Homecoming Celebration – a week filled with tradition, school pride, family, alumni fellowship, and community spirit.
