Toni Lanford-Ferguson was honored for her service to the City of Vicksburg’s Board of Architectural Review during Monday’s meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said Lanford-Ferguson served the city well for years before deciding to step down from the board in 2024.

“Today we salute a phenomenal lady,” Flaggs said. “She has said it is time to go. She’s seen a lot of things happen. And, Toni: Thank you. We want to present this resolution to you in honor of your retirement.”

Lanford-Ferguson was initially appointed to the board by former Vicksburg Mayor Robert Walker more than 25 years ago, Flaggs said, before making her retirement official on February 27.

Flaggs said Lanford-Ferguson’s many accomplishments during her time on the board included improvement to historic property and buildings in Vicksburg, as well as saving many historic properties from demolition and bringing a wealth of knowledge and skill to the board’s decision-making process.

Lanford-Ferguson said her time spent serving on the board has been a pleasure.

“Thank you to the mayor and aldermen,” she said. “The Board of Architectural Review is an official arm of the city. We are all volunteers, but the support of the board is so important. We make a lot of decisions. It’s just been an honor to serve.”

Landford-Ferguson said the role the board plays in Vicksburg is vital to many aspects of life in the historic city.

“Historic preservation, especially in this city, is so important,” she said. “Not the least of which is the economic impact. Tourists don’t come to see empty parking lots. They come to see what is unique to the City of Vicksburg. My admiration goes out to the people who see that and who have saved so many of the buildings. You would not believe the number of buildings and structures and places that have been kept from demolition and are there for these people getting off the boats to see.”

Landford-Ferguson will be replaced on the board by Remy Massey, whose appointment was approved during Monday’s meeting.