Dear Olive Branch Residents,

On behalf of myself, the Board of Aldermen, and City Staff, I would like to share with you about the history of our municipality.

Judge Bernice Bouie Donald

Black History in Olive Branch

The City of Olive Branch has a rich history with many notable residents. At the February 4th meeting, myself and the Board of Aldermen will unveil the newest addition to the City Hall Museum honoring the accomplishments of Olive Branch native Judge Bernice Bouie Donald.

Judge Donald is an alumna of Olive Branch High School where she graduated as an honor student. She was among the first African Americans in DeSoto County to attend during school integration in 1970 during Judge Donald's Junior year.

Prior to School Integration, East Side High School in Olive Branch was once an all-black high school. It is now the campus of Olive Branch Intermediate School. In 2018, a Mississippi historical marker for East Side High was placed on the school site. East Side High School was notable in its list of distinguished graduates that includes Leon Gray, who played in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints and Mark Guy, who played in the Arena Football League.

Judge Donald has continued to have a life full of historic "firsts." She was the first member of her family to graduate from college; first African American female judge in the history of Tennessee (1982); first female bankruptcy judge in Tennessee (1988); first African American female bankruptcy judge in the history of the United States; first African American female federal judge in Tennessee (1995) as appointed by President Bill Clinton; first African American female judge to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals appointed by President Barack Obama (2011); the first African American female officer of the 400,000 member American Bar Association; and on October 19th, 2024 the City of Memphis designated Front Street between Poplar Avenue and Beale Street as “Judge Bernice Bouie Donald Street.” Honorary signs were installed along the route to pay tribute to her trailblazing career.

To learn more about the history of other residents and the City of Olive Branch, please be sure to visit the City Hall Museum during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 8am till 5pm. It is located on the first floor. You can find composites from East Side High School and learn about Kent Sessom and his contributions to our City's utility infrastructure-- just to name a few!

Your Vote Counts! Election day is 06/05/25

Absentee Voting for the 2025 Municipal Primary Elections starts February 18th!

2025 is an election year for Municipalities in Mississippi and I strongly encourage all residents to do their civic duty and vote. As Mayor, I extend a special thank you to each of the candidates who have submitted their name for consideration during this election.

Primary Election Day is April 1, 2025 and the General Election is Tuesday, June 3. If you are a new resident, you can register to vote at City Hall during regular business hours. For more information about the upcoming Municipal Election, please visit https://www.obms.us/1354/2025-Municipal-Elections .

In-Person Absentee Primary voting starts February 18th at the City Clerk's Office. The City Clerk’s office is located at 9200 Pigeon Roost Road. You can vote Monday-Friday, 8am till 5pm at City Hall or during additional hours, Saturday March 1st or Saturday March 29th from 8am till Noon. For any questions, you may contact the City Clerk's Office at 662.892.9211.

Key Dates
Absentee Primary Voting: February 18- March 29
Voter Registration Deadline for Primary Election Voting: March 3
Primary Election: Tuesday, April 1
Absentee General Election Voting: April 19 - May 31
Voter Registration Deadline for General Election Voting: May 5
General Election, Tuesday, June 3

Polling Places

You can look up your polling place by visiting here:

https://dcms-gis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ee2757887447432085317c42f7932af9

Ward 1: Compel Church, 7790 Davidson Road
Ward 2: St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 5690 Pleasant Hill Road
Ward 3: Redeemer Church, 5050 Katherine Drive
Ward 4: Olive Branch Municipal Court, 6900 Highland Street
Ward 5: Great Commission Church, 7070 Reliance Lane
Ward 6: Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8161 Germantown Road

Election Day
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Polls are open 7 am - 7 pm.
Show a Photo ID with your current address such as your Driver’s License, Military ID, or a University ID.. You may also secure a MS Voter Registration ID Card at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office. I strongly encourage all residents to participate in this important event to have your voice heard.

City Improvements to Water/Sewer

The City of Olive Branch is continuing to improve Water & Sewer services for the Northeast and Southern areas of Olive Branch.

Starting January 27th, water and sewer installation will occur in the area near of Pleasant Hill Road and College impacting the subdivisions of Spring Valley, Pine Crest, and Pleasant Hill Estates. This project will be concluded in the Spring of 2026.

Starting February 6th, water and sewer installation will occur in the area North of Goodman Road up to Polk Lane Cove and along Polk Lane East; impacting the subdivisions of Pleasant Grove and Davis Estates. This project is scheduled to be concluded by the Spring of 2026.

Both of these projects were funded thanks to the Mississippi Municipality & County Water Infrastructure (MCWI) Grant the City sought and was selected to receive.

aerial photo overlooking Craft-Goodman Road and the City Water Tower.

Stay In Touch

Thank you for reading the latest edition of our City's newsletter, From The Mayor’s Desk. This newsletter is my commitment to transparency and open dialogue to foster a sense of unity among all residents. I hope to see you at an upcoming community event and encourage you to visit City Hall and attend Board of Aldermen meetings to be heard and stay connected. You can view all upcoming events and meetings in the City of Olive Branch by visiting www.obms.us/calendar.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor.

Sincerely,

Kenneth (Ken) R. Adams

Mayor of the City of Olive Branch

ken.adams@obms.us 662.892.9201