Ellie Dahmer said last Monday, January 6 that Mississippi has changed. She looked at the statue of her late husband, civil rights leader Vernon F. Dahmer, outside of the Forrest County Courthouse.
“Never as a child growing up in Jasper County did I imagine I’d be standing here today,” she said. “The statue of my husband is proof of this. My family and I are grateful for everyone that made this day a reality. Remember elections have consequences, and let’s remember to vote.”
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Hattiesburg to witness the historic dedication of a bronze statue honoring the life and legacy of Dahmer. Selected as the statue’s permanent site for its historical significance, the Forrest County Courthouse grounds were where African Americans stood to fight for their right to vote during the 1964 Freedom Summer. The statue and wall inscribed with Dahmer’s mantra – “If you don’t vote, you don’t count” – will forever memorialize his life’s work and serve as a testament of equal rights for all.
Forrest County Board of Supervisors President David Hogan said Dahmer represented the most valuable virtues of Hattiesburg – courage, compassion, and activism.
“This statue will now permanently mark his heroic determination and celebrate that each and every person has the right to count,” he said. “It is our honor to be a part of this historic dedication.”
Dahmer – a farmer, businessman and civil rights leader – was killed defending his home and family on January 10, 1966. A well-respected leader in the community, he ran a successful family-owned grocery store, served twice as president of the local NAACP chapter, fought for civil rights for African Americans, led voter registration drives, and publicly offered to pay poll taxes for anyone who wanted to register to vote but could not afford it.
Led by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, the concept for the statue and memorial began nearly four years ago. Since then a committee of Dahmer family members, local delegates, and community leaders brought the project to life. At the Forrest County Courthouse, Dahmer joined other civil rights leaders during the 1964 Freedom Summer Day, which was 56 years ago this month. In 1998 history was made again when the Dahmer family received justice after Klansmen were convicted for Dahmer’s murder.
Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said the statue will provide honor, gratitude and hope for the community as it remembers Dahmer’s impact as a civil rights leader.
“A core value of the city of Hattiesburg includes telling our story, with a deep obligation to remember those who have valiantly come before us and to educate future generations,” he said. “Mr. Dahmer’s statue will forever be an opportunity for us to go beyond textbooks and newspapers – to embrace how civic engagement and unwavering belief can change the course of history.”
Sculptor Ben Watts and Hattiesburg artist Vixon Sullivan worked together for more than 10 months on the statue. Watts is a nationally recognized sculptor from Columbia, whose works include Mississippi author Eudora Welty, football legend Walter Payton, and the statues of Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Monroe at the world-renowned Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Sullivan said the Dahmer statue has a deep meaning.
“When I pass this statue, I will salute to a man who selflessly served,” he said. “This sculpture, to me, represents the power of an individual with a mission of the heart. This is a call to action to live like Vernon Dahmer Sr. He is a local hero. This is a reminder to stand on the right side of history, where there is equality and every voice can be heard.”
Dahmer’s contributions during the national civil rights movement are highlighted at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson. This new statue is also a stop on the self-guided 1964 Freedom Summer driving and audio tour in Hattiesburg. Trail participants can hear the Dahmer family’s story told by Ellie Dahmer as she recounts that fatal night.
Freedom Summer was the 1964 voter registration drive that took place all over Mississippi, with Hattiesburg serving as the largest Freedom Summer area in the state. It helped awaken the consciousness of the nation as Americans watched what happened on nightly news programs and read reports in the daily papers. With a focus on increasing black voter registration, Freedom Summer workers included out-of-state white volunteers and many participants from the Hattiesburg area, totaling more than 4,000 volunteers during the two-month period.
Hattiesburg is home to the largest 1964 Freedom Summer Trail, which includes 16 stops with audio clips featuring oral histories from those who participated in the civil rights movement.