Lolly Barnes was presented the inaugural Julia Guice Lifetime Achievement Award for her body of work preserving the history of Biloxi. Barnes, who as the city’s historic administrator oversaw the restoration of a number of city properties, today serves as the director of the Mississippi Heritage Trust,
The presentation was one of the highlights of the city’s 2014 Preservation Awards held this evening at the newly restored White House Hotel, which itself was an award recipient.
Barnes was described by Biloxi Historical Administrator Bill Raymond as “a woman who has devoted her entire professional life preserving and protecting the history of Biloxi and now the entire state of Mississippi.”
During her tenure with the city, Barnes oversaw the restoration of Tullis Manor, the Saenger, the Old Brick House, the Crawford House and other properties. She also created Preservation 101, a historic preservation education program. After a stint working to help restore the White House Hotel, Barnes became director of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting our states architectural history.
The award presented to Barnes is named in honor of Julia Guice, a lifelong Biloxian who served as the city’s Civil Defense director before turning historian. The preservation ceremony was in honor of Guice, who died a year ago. Additionally, audience members were presented a book she inspired, ‘When Biloxi Was the Seafood Capital of the World. Co-authors David Sheffield and Darnell Nicovich were on hand to sign copies of the book, which the city had reprinted.
Other awards presented this evening:
— Preservationist of the Year: Jane Shambra, Local History and Genealogy Department of the Biloxi Public Library
— Outstanding Preservation Organization: Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
— Restoration Project Award of Merit: Rue Vieux LLC, 129 Rue Magnolia
— Restoration Project Award of Merit: Bruce and Alice Duckett, 116 Benachi Ave.
— Outstanding Commercial Restoration Project : White House Hotel, 1230 Beach Blvd.
— Outstanding Residential Restoration Project: Yong Kim, 632 Howard Ave.
— Outstanding Adaptive Re-use Project in an Historic District: Downtown Biloxi Development Group, 131 Lameuse St.
— Excellence in Restoration: Mladinich Holding, LP for White Pillars, 1696 Beach Blvd.
— Vision for Preservation Award: Randy Barras.
— Volunteer Preservationist Award: Richard Murden
— Advocate of Preservation Award: Martha H. Tripp
— Outstanding Preservation Craftsman Award: Buddy Jumonville
— Outstanding Preservation Volunteer: Ray Bellande
— Excellence in Preservation Award: Lee Ann Dubaz for the Biloxi Public Schools Museum
— Leadership in Preservation: Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce
See photographs
Read background on each award
