MIDDLEBURG — Following a legacy of courage and inspiration, Clay County Civil Rights leader Maude Burroughs-Jackson will be officially honored with a marker following approval by the Board of County Commissioners on April 14.

Located at Fire Station 14 at 4003 Everett Avenue, the aluminum marker will be courtesy of the Florida Women’s Historical Marker Initiative. Launched in 2024 by the Florida Senate, the committee aims to honor the achievements of women who have made significant contributions to Florida’s history.

The Fire Station used to be home to the original Middleburg Colored School. The one-room wooden schoolhouse, built in 1903, was the first place that Black residents in Middleburg could receive a formal education.

Jackson, an 84-year-old retired schoolteacher, was a student and later principal. Dedicating her life to advancing education during the era of segregation, she was widely known for working closely with families, churches and community leaders to secure supplies to improve the school’s facilities.

When she learned the school was going to be burned down, she rallied historic societies across the county to help preserve the building. It was moved to its current location at Hunter Douglas Park in 1995.

The marker will reflect Jackson’s enduring contributions to Middleburg and the history of Clay County. The plaque will be installed in the front grassy area and is expected to last over 100 years. Just like Jackson’s legacy.