A new petition to change the name of the Ross Barnett Reservoir has gathered momentum in the past day. The petition, started on September 16, 2026, is seeking 100 signatures and had reached 90 at the last count. As of this morning, the petition page shows 188 signatures. The effort is part of a renewed push to reconsider how the reservoir, located just outside Jackson and central to daily life in the surrounding area, reflects the values and history of Mississippi.
Ross Barnett served as Mississippi’s governor in the early 1960s. He is known for using his office to prevent James Meredith from enrolling at the University of Mississippi, defying federal court orders and drawing national attention to the state’s resistance to integration. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Board named the reservoir after Barnett in 1963, less than a year after those events.
Recent controversy involving the Barnett family has brought renewed attention to the name. Residents and petition organizers argue that honoring Barnett by name does not reflect the community’s current values. The petition points out that while history should be remembered, it does not require continued public honor for figures whose actions are now widely viewed as harmful.
This is not the first time the issue has surfaced. Efforts to rename the reservoir have appeared before, including legislative proposals in 2025 and 2026 and previous petitions in both 2020 and 2022. In 2022, a petition to rename the reservoir in honor of R.H. Cleveland collected over 1,400 signatures. In 2020, another drive gathered 755 signatures. Both efforts called for a name that better fits the values of the current community and acknowledges the diversity of those who live, work, and recreate around the reservoir.
Lawmakers have also considered several proposals. In 2025, House Bill 1351 suggested renaming it the “William F. Winter and Fannie Lou Hamer Reservoir.” In 2026, House Bill 1098 proposed the “B.B. King Reservoir.” These repeated efforts show that both residents and state officials see this as an open question.
Many local residents rely on the reservoir for fishing, boating, and family recreation. The name change would mean updated signage and possible adjustments for local businesses and organizations, but would not impact day-to-day access or use of the water or park facilities. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Board has been asked to add the renaming discussion to its public agenda and allow community input on any new name.
Residents living within a few miles of the reservoir should expect continued public conversation and possible legislative action. If the petition reaches its goal, and if state officials or the Board respond, there could be public meetings or forums for residents to share their views. Any official name change would involve updates to signs, maps, and potentially the reservoir’s control tower.
The petition is available at Change.org for those interested in reading more or adding their support. The discussion is ongoing, and local residents will have opportunities to participate as the process moves ahead.
