J.W. Randolph School

Around 1920, a Black civic organization in Pass Christian petitioned for a new school. In 1927-28, the school was constructed at a cost of $24,000. Construction financing was provided through public funding and private donations, including the Rosenwald Fund. Originally designated as the Harrison County Training School, the name was changed in 1939 to honor a former school principal, J.W. Randolph — a formerly enslaved man who became a Mississippi state legislator and schoolteacher. When school segregation came to an end in 1966, the building was rededicated as the Pass Christian Middle School. After 2000, it no longer served as a public school. In August 2005, the structure was severely damaged by winds and storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. The school was saved by a coalition of former students, community activists, and preservationists. Restoration efforts began in 2009 with funding from public and private grants. The renovated school was dedicated on January 22, 2013, to be used as a senior citizen center and for social events. In 2006, the structure was designated a Mississippi Landmark. In 2025 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.