Jacqueline Byrd Martin

Jacqueline Byrd Martin was born in McComb, Mississippi in 1946. She attended the all-black Burglund High School where, as a 15-year-old in October 1961, she joined an all-school student walkout in protest over the expulsion of her classmate, Brenda Travis, who earlier that summer was arrested for attempting to purchase a ticket at the all-white bus ticket counter in McComb. Along with over 80 classmates who refused to sign an oath against any future protests, Ms. Martin was banned from Burglund for the remainder of that year, attending Campbell College in Jackson, 80 miles to the north where she finished her 10th-grade year. Later, Martin attended college in New York City, eventually moving back to McComb to raise a son and work for the City of McComb in multiple community leadership positions, retiring as Deputy City Administrator. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Belhaven University and is a Certified Training Professional. She stays active working with the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation and Sustainable Equity to support community building, civil rights education, and life-skills coaching.