Marcus Street is being renamed.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday passed a resolution to rename the street for former Vicksburg Warren superintendent of schools and Rosa A. Temple principal James E. Stirgus Sr.

“James E. Stirgus Sr. is an educator, superintendent in the Vicksburg schools,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said, adding the residents on Marcus Street were asked about the change “and there were no objections to my knowledge. I think the resolution speaks to that.

“We should have a long time ago recognized this phenomenal man; this man who has educated so many, impacted so many people’s lives.”

No date has been set for the ceremony renaming the street pending approval of the name change by the county’s 911 committee.

Flaggs said he talked with Stirgus’ oldest daughter, Connie Stirgus Marley, about the change, and a three-person committee of Marshall Sanders, Alonzo Stevens and William Clay was appointed to review the street name recommendation.

Marley said Flaggs called her about renaming the street.

“I told him I needed time to think about it, because always my concern was how would the neighbors take it and how my father would feel about it,” she said.

She said she took time to think about it and called Flaggs back, saying renaming the street would be a great idea only if all the residents on Marcus Street “were on board with it. When I heard there was no opposition, I spoke to the mayor and they went ahead with it and the resolution was passed.”

She said the decision to name the street after her father “really meant a lot, because I believe my father sacrificed a lot to try and do what he thought was right, especially for the city of Vicksburg, especially for the students of Rosa A. Temple High School.

“I was literally delighted that his hard work for the community was being recognized,” Marley said.

“I’m happy that Mr. Flaggs thought enough to do that, and the family appreciates him doing this,” James Stirgus Jr. said. “It was a surprise to us that he chose to do it.”

Ann Stirgus, wife of James Stirgus Sr., called the decision “a real gesture on the part of whoever thought of that. I think it’s real good.”

Stirgus spent nearly 35 years as a teacher, principal, superintendent and doing various other jobs in Warren County’s education system. He served as principal of Rosa A. Temple High School and later as superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School System. The Vicksburg High School football field is named for him.

Renaming Marcus Street for Stirgus is the second time the board has named city property after a prominent person. The board in January renamed the City Hall Annex on Walnut Street after former Vicksburg Mayor Robert Major Walker.