“These students are our future, and if I have been able to help secure that future and develop their lives, that is enough of a legacy for me.”
Those words were Harold C. Middleton’s thoughts on how he would like to be remembered as Yazoo County’s superintendent of education in 1993.
Middleton’s accomplishments as the county school’s leader will certainly be remembered in that way.
The veteran educator and administrator, who died Friday at age 82, will perhaps best be remembered for leading the effort to construct Yazoo County High School. His legacy is one of replacing outdated campuses that no longer met the needs of the students they served with a modern and centrally located facility.
Middleton began his career in education as an assistant teacher at Benton High School and advanced through the ranks as a teacher, assistant principal and later principal. He had served for 35 years in the Yazoo County School District when he was elected superintendent in 1992.
As superintendent Middleton will probably be best remembered for leading the way to construct Yazoo County High School along with a multi-purpose building and an alternative school, it is also notable that he accomplished these things while improving the district’s finances and reducing the burden on the taxpayers.
When Middleton retired in 1999 there was no debt on any of the new buildings, and during his tenure the county school district reduced the county’s millage rate by 5.10 mills while still having adequate money to operate.
In addition to his career in education, Middleton was known for his faith. He was a longtime member of Gideon’s International and a deacon for many years at Benton Baptist Church.
Funeral services were Monday at Parkview Church of God.
He is survived by his wife; Cecelia Allen Middleton; sons, Hal Middleton and wife Cindy of Benton, and Byron Middleton and wife Kelly of Yazoo City; daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Shipp and husband David of Benton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, brother; Dan Middleton of Winona and sisters-in-law Nell Middleton of Winona and Marianne Middleton of West Point.
