Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home Superintendent Honored With Esteemed Award from National Parks Group

WASHINGTON– The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is proud to announce that Keena Graham, Superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, is the latest recipient of NPCA’s esteemed Stephen T. Mather Award.

The Stephen T. Mather Award, first presented in 1984, is named after the first director of the National Park Service (NPS) and is presented to individuals in the National Park Service who have shown steadfast leadership and persistent dedication to our national parks.

The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, designated in 2020, is the first national park site in Mississippi, primarily dedicated to telling stories of the Civil Rights Era. The monument preserves the Evers family home in Jackson. As the first Mississippi Field Secretary for the NAACP, Evers investigated endemic discrimination and violence against Black Americans in the Deep South. An organizer and prominent public figure, Evers traveled across the state helping register voters, including many Black citizens who faced serious dangers as they exercised their right to vote for the first time.

On June 12, 1963, Evers was gunned down in his driveway by a Mississippi man associated with various racist groups. His assassination created a national uproar, drawing broader attention to the Civil Rights Movement. His wife, Myrlie Evers-Williams, and family members continued to serve their community and advocate for equal rights even as they mourned their loss.

When Superintendent Graham was selected to take the helm of the monument in 2021, she became the only permanent National Park Service staff member at the site. The monument had few resources or existing visitor services. The property did not even have functioning restrooms for staff or visitors.

Eboni Preston Goddard, NPCA’s Southeast Regional Director, said in a statement:

“As Superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Keena Graham has been called upon to interprets one of America’s darkest, most significant chapters of American history for visitors. She has answered the call with tremendous grace and care. With her guidance and leadership, this national park site has become a community gathering place where history inspires dialogue, reflection, and civic understanding.” Goddard continued.

“Her steadfast leadership has ensured that this national park site remains a place that honors the Evers family story and their contributions to our nation, even amid the administration’s ongoing efforts to erase history at our national parks. Keena Graham exemplifies the highest ideals our National Park Service represents. Her dedication to protecting cultural resources, expanding public access and education, fostering community partnerships, and ensuring meaningful visitor experiences reflects the very spirit of the Stephen T. Mather Award.” Goddard concluded.

Under Superintendent Graham’s leadership, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument includes new exhibits and provides programming to help visitors from around the world – but especially Mississippi students on field trips – learn from the Evers family history. To do so, she’s worked in close partnership with organizations like the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, Trust for Public Land, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Blanchard House Institute, Millsaps College, Jackson State University, the National Park Foundation, and NPCA.

She led the charge to establish Myrlie’s Garden, a community garden on the monument property that pays homage to the Evers’ love of horticulture. Myrlie’s Garden provides a calm, quiet place for visitors to sit in contemplation following interpretive tours of the home, which can include difficult discussions of Medgar Evers’ assassination and the couple’s efforts to safeguard their children from danger.

“Keena is part of a remarkable new generation of Park Service leaders who have been entrusted with stewarding new national park units dedicated to Black history and culture in the Deep South. This work comes with the extraordinary responsibilities and challenges of interpreting difficult, often traumatic histories of civil and human rights, histories that can intersect deeply with one’s own identity.” said Joshua Jenkins, National Parks Conservation Association Deep South Program Manager.

“Through it all, Keena has remained steadfast, leading with creativity, conviction, and an inclusive vision for how these stories should be preserved, shared, and understood. Her leadership is an inspiration to her colleagues and to all who believe in the importance of ensuring these histories are recognized and protected for generations to come.” Jenkins concluded.

Superintendent Graham has worked to expand public perception of the Evers family beyond memories of the assassination, including their lasting legacy of advocacy following his murder. Superintendent Graham and Park Service Staff here greet each visitor to the monument with “Welcome home!” to emphasize that this park site protects a family home, not just the site of tragedy. Each visitor leaves the monument with a packet of seeds from Myrlie’s Garden.

“I am honored to receive this award for work that I’m privileged to do in preserving the history of the blessed community of courageous freedom fighters who risked all for the advancement of humanity.” said Keena Graham, Superintendent for the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument.

Superintendent Keena Graham has more than two decades of experience protecting natural and cultural resources at agencies under the Department of Interior, including 16 years as a National Park Service ranger at the Robert E. Lee Memorial, National Mall, Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and Russell Cave National Monument.

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.