Mississippi Civil Rights activist Herman Leach has passed away following a fire at his home in Yazoo County.
On Friday, Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff released that Leach, 85, died inside his residence in Yazoo County’s Jonestown District.
At this time, Leach is believed to have been the only individual inside the home at the time of the fire. The incident is currently under investigation.
Leach, brother of former Yazoo City Mayor Wardell Leach, served as the first African American on the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors and the Right of Way Division for the Mississippi State Highway Department. He was elected to take the position of supervisor for District 5 in 1979 before running for District 3 Supervisor in 1987.
In total, Leach held office as a supervisor for four terms before receiving the Harriet Tubman Award from the Magnolia Bar Association and the Magnolia Bar Foundation in 1999. Prior to his time in office, Leach obtained his bachelor of science degree from Jackson State University (JSU) before doing graduate study work at JSU and Alcorn State University.
Two weeks ago, Mississippi Civil Rights activist Ineva May Pittman also passed away following a fire that destroyed her Jackson home.
Pittman, 88, was known throughout the community for her work in advocating for equal voting rights and education before taking the position of president of the Jackson NAACP branch. The Jackson State University alumna also taught at her high school alma mater of Lanier High School.
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Mississippi Civil Rights activist Ineva May Pittman dies in house fire
