In honor of the lives and work of Gov. William Winter and First Lady Elise Winter, admission is free at the Two Mississippi Museums on Saturday, Feb. 21. Free admission is made possible by Jones Walker LLP, which acquired Watkins, Ludlam, Winter and Stennis, where William Winter worked for over 50 years.
"It is an honor and a privilege to recognize the contributions of Governor and First Lady Winter by supporting the Two Mississippi Museums’ William Winter Free Day," said Bill Hines, managing partner of Jones Walker LLP. "We are confident that visitors will gain insight into their commitment to Mississippi's history and their efforts toward educating future generations."
Known for his staunch support for public education in Mississippi, Winter helped raise endowment funds to bring Mississippi’s schoolchildren to the Two Mississippi Museums – the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
The Two Mississippi Museums stand at the intersection of Winter’s greatest passions – history, education, and racial justice. He was a leading force behind the public/private partnerships that created the site’s conception and eventual construction. He once said the museums “were built for all of us, but most especially they were built for our children and our grandchildren and future generations.”
Winter served on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and was president for nearly that long. He died Dec.18, 2020, at the age of 97. Elise Winter, who was a community activist and author, died just six months after her husband on July 17, 2021.
The Foundation for Mississippi History established The William and Elise Winter Education Endowment to memorialize the Winters and their commitment to education and preservation. Funds are used to defray costs such as admission, travel, and on-site lunches for students.
