Career
Mississippi Steward served as president of both the Jacksonville National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as well as the Florida State Conference. The lawsuit Mims vs Duval County School System made her a household name throughout the city due to forced busing that occur as a result. Mississippi Steward served as president of the Jacksonville National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1972-1978.
During her three terms, she fought against racial discrimination in the police, fire department and city government.
She organized numerous demonstration and boycotts against racial profiling of blacks by police. Under her leadership, the membership was increased to over 2,500 members, which made it the largest National Association for the Advancement of Colored People branch in the Southeastern region.
Mississippi Steward ran unsuccessfully for the Jacksonville City Council twice and Florida State Senate.
Mississippi Steward died in 2000 and is interred at Edgewood Cemetery in Jacksonville. A post office has been named in her honor.
