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NATCHEZ – Zandra McDonald, superintendent of the Natchez-Adams School District, will be the guest speaker for the 85th commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club fire of April 23, 1940. The ceremony is set for 12 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Rhythm Night Club (on site) Memorial Museum at 5 St. Catherine St. It is free to the public.

“I am deeply honored to join our community in remembering the lives we lost at the Rhythm Night Club fire,” said McDonald. “This commemoration gives us an opportunity to share the stories of those impacted, (and it) serves as a reminder of the resilience, hope, and unity that define Natchez—and reinforces my commitment, as a district leader, to ensuring every student learns from our past as we build a brighter, more compassionate future together.”

The theme this year is “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Education the Way Up,” according to Monroe and Betty Sago, the museum’s owners. Betty Sago said McDonald was the perfect choice this year, given the program’s focus on education: “She is a product of Natchez public schools. She was born and raised here in Natchez.”

McDonald has worked for more than 25 years in different capacities in the school district. Her education includes a master’s degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Literature from Tougaloo College.

In addition to McDonald, Saturday’s program will feature Wynetta Dangerfield, teacher and co-leader of Natchez High School’s African American Culture Club. Dangerfield will give a presentation on the club.

Music will be provided by several people who will perform as soloists. They include Dangerfield, Tony Fields, Lawrence Reggie Winston, and Lakeria Kaho.

One of the highlights of the program is the presentation of a $500 to $1,000 scholarship, which is awarded each year to a student who writes a winning essay on the museum. Last year’s recipient of a $1,000 scholarship was Daisha Green, a direct descendant of the late Mary Christmas, who died in the Rhythm Night Club fire. She plans to study pre-dentistry at Mississippi State University, according to the Sagos.

The program typically begins with the siren blast of a fire engine from the Natchez Fire Department. It includes a presentation of door prizes, refreshments, and a tour of the museum.

A new feature of the museum is a theater room where visitors can watch recordings of the people who survived the 1940 fire.

The Sagos have been holding this commemoration for the past 17 years to pay homage to the 209-plus victims who died in the club fire of April 23, 1940, as well as those who survived. Those who died included students, business leaders, and Woodrick McGuire, the band director of Brumfield School. Musician Walter Barnes and members of his band also died in the fire.

For more information, call 601-597-0557 or send an email to bettysago@rnconsitemm.org.