Linwood School had its beginning in a one-room building during the latter 19th century. The site was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Linwood Pepper and was called the Pepper School.
During the 1920’s the one-room building was replaced by a Julius Rosenwald School, which was funded by the Rosenwalt Fund along with Community Proration. This building consisted of two ample sized classrooms, a room for Industrial Arts and a Cloak Room. It was provided with desks and a case of books that included writings by Negro Authors. A second teacher was provided.
In the fall of 1934, a third teacher was added. She provided the historical information. The Industrial Room was converted into a classroom. In 1947, the Rosenwald building burned.
This writer, then Principal of the school, sent a letter soliciting the interest of parents in requesting that the school was rebuilt as a high school A number of parents responded in the affirmative. The replies were presented to Mr. Aubrey Norwood Nichols, then supervisor of Beat 2. He expressed understanding, sympathy and commitment.
The Board of Supervisors was not yet ready to go that far. However, a four-room building was erected for the Elementary grades, and it is still a part of the school.
Mr. Nichols, refusing to give up, gained the support of Mr. Walter Lynn Wilson, a member of the County Board of Education representing Beat 2 and Mr. Clayton Swayze, amongst others.
Between the time of Mr. Nichols’ initial request of the Board about providing high school education al facilities for Negro children, and when such provision was made, a group of parents decided to petition the Board of Education to provide transportation and tuition for high school students in the Eastern part of the country to attend school at the Yazoo County High School #2.
In 1949, Mrs. Mollie Wilburn, accompanied by the male members of the committee, presented the request to Mr. Wheeler, who was County Superintendent of Education, who in turn presented it to the Board of Education.
During the school year 1950-51, Mr. Henry Thurman transported students from the various neighborhoods in the Eastern section of the country at the expense of the parents. The Board paid tuition. During the 1951-52 year, the Board assumed responsibility for both the transportation and the tuition.
The wide swing through this section of the county caused the children to leave from home very early and return after nightfall. However, they were willing to put up with that inconvenience for the privilege of sending their children to school without having to send them off to boarding school or boarding them out in Yazoo City.
Mr. Golden who was then the principal of Benton High School for Whites, suggested that a request be made that high school facilities be provided in the county for Negro students.
Mr. Nichols never gave up, in 1951, the state offered Yazoo County and High School for Negro students. Land was acquired for the site which allowed for expansion from the Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Linwood Pepper.
In the fall of 1952, Yazoo County’s first school for Negro high school students was opened in the Linwood Community of Vaughan, Mississippi. However, it accommodated students grades 7-12 from adjoining Beats. The school was named East Yazoo High School.
Mr. Jordan Walker was the first principle fo this facility. With the support of the P.T.A., a high school band was formed and instruments were purchased. The County paid for the instruction. As time passed, the county also provided the instruments. Business and agriculture became part of the curriculum. Twenty-five acres of land was provided for use of the Agriculture Department.
After three years as principal, Mr. Walker passed and was succeeded by Mr. Alphonso Fouche, Jr. During this administration, the school was renamed Linwood High School. A Classroom building for Elementary grades was provided and all elementary students in the school community were transferred to the Linwood Campus, which then accommodated grades 1-12. Public school music became a part of the curriculum.
In 1967, Mr. Hampton Wilburn succeeded Fouche as Principal. During his administration, a library was opened. A part-time Guidance Counselor, Speech Therapist and Nurse were employed. A special education program also began. Formidable Jr. High basketball teams were developed.
After integration, whites refused to integrate and Linwood High became an elementary school. Linwood and Benton High Schools were merged in January of 1970; at which time grades 7-12 were transferred to Benton High School under the administration of Mr. Harold Middlton.
In early 1973, Mr. Wilburn passed. Mrs. Lillian C. Jones was transferred back to Linwood as principle. During her administration, the Special Eduation program was expanded. The school acquired a full-time secretary and librarian. At the closing of Kings Elementary, a full-time guidance councelor and public school music teacher was absorbed. The Jr. High Basketball Team remained the county champions.
Mrs. Lillian C. Jones in whom most of the writing is credited to, retired in 1978 and succeeded by Mr. Aubrey N. Brent Sr., who has since retired.
The principals succeeding him were: Mrs. Pallascene Cole, Mrs. Everline Terrell, Mrs. Gloria Washington and currently serving, Mrs. Shundria Shaffer.