Clarksdale, MS — Educator, advocate, and lifelong servant leader Dr. Mary Frances Dear‑Moton proudly announces her intent to run for the Mississippi House of Representatives, District 26. With deep Delta roots and a proven record of public service, Dr. Dear‑Moton steps forward to serve with vision, experience, and heart.
A champion of education, Dr. Dear‑Moton is a graduate of Clarksdale Public Schools and Immaculate Conception High School. She earned an Associate’s Degree from Coahoma Junior College, followed by a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work, a Master’s in Sociology, and a Doctorate in Urban Higher Education from Thee Jackson State University. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Coahoma Community College and is the former Director of the AmeriCorps RSVP Program at Coahoma Opportunities.
Her leadership has created lasting impact across the Delta. Dr. Dear‑Moton was instrumental in bringing both the WIC Program and the School Breakfast Program to Coahoma County, ensuring pregnant and nursing mothers, children, and families in need have access to proper nutrition and a healthy start.
Through a partnership with Legal Services, Dr. Dear‑Moton helped facilitate the expungement of 236 criminal records across the state of Mississippi—restoring dignity and opening doors for residents seeking a second chance.
Dr. Dear‑Moton’s campaign is rooted in legacy. She is a blood relative of civil rights icon Dr. Aaron E. Henry and Rep. Leonard Henderson, both of whom honorably served District 26. She is also a cousin of Emmett Till, whose life galvanized the Civil Rights Movement, and blues legend Little Junior Parker, grounding her in the cultural richness of the region.
“Service is in my blood,” said Dr. Dear‑Moton. “My mother Rachel Parker Dear, a civil rights activist, fought for freedom and dignity.”
A Platform with Purpose
If elected, Dr. Dear‑Moton will champion:
• Strengthening public education from early childhood through higher education
• Supporting and investing in HBCUs and institutions of higher learning
• Expanding broadband access to every household
• Prioritizing infrastructure improvements across rural and urban areas
• Supporting Medicaid expansion to close healthcare gaps
• Continuing her work in criminal record expungement and second-chance advocacy
• Creating impactful summer youth job programs that build brighter futures
She is also the founder of Family and Youth Opportunities Division, Inc., through which she has led empowerment workshops, CEU conferences, across Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. For years, she hosted Clarksdale’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet and MLK Black History Month Parade.
“This campaign is not about the seat—it’s about the responsibility that comes with the opportunity to serve,” she said. “I’ve spent my life advocating for equity, education, and empowerment. Now, I’m ready to bring that work to the State Capitol.”
With purpose, passion, and the power of legacy behind her, Dr. Mary Frances Dear‑Moton is ready to deliver for District 26—and every Mississippian who calls it home.
(Paid for by Dr. Mary Frances Dear-Moton)
