Midway, Madison County
Named after longtime educator Albert Vernal Lee (c. 1888-1967), the Albert Lee School educated generations of African American students in Midway. The first dedicated school for the African American community was built in 1915. Ten years later, Midway ISD built Midway Colored School using Rosenwald funds. A.V. Lee, a Midway native, began teaching in 1925, and five years later, was promoted to principal. Other extraordinary educators at Midway Colored School include Ida May Blackwell, Fannie Carter, William Bridges, and Pauline Gooden. When Lee retired in 1960, the school was renamed Albert Lee School in his honor. School integration forced its closure in 1963. Dedicated alumni groups remained active decades later. (2023)