By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez
Wyatt Waters of Wyatt Waters Gallery recently donated a giclée print of his painting, “Dr. John Banks House,” to the staff of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum at 9. St. Catherine St. From left are Jacqulyn B. Williams, Velua Robinson, Thelma Newsome, Mayor Dan Gibson, Rev. LeRoy White, Wyatt Waters, Kristi Waters, Willie Woods, Dora Hawkins, and Bonita Reed. Photo by Albert L. Jones
When Thelma Newsome learned that Wyatt Waters had painted the watercolor, “Dr. John Banks House,” back in July, she became excited and curious.
Newsome, a manager of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, said the museum staff wanted a copy of the painting, but she wondered if she could purchase one with the help of her children.
“When I contacted Wyatt Waters Gallery, I was told that Mr. Waters would be happy to donate a giclée print of the original painting to the museum,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it. We were on Cloud 15 all day. We really do appreciate his gift.”
Wyatt Waters, right, presents a giclée print of his watercolor of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum to the Rev. LeRoy White, pastor of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, which owns and operates the museum. Photo by Albert L. Jones
Newsome shared these remarks Friday, December 12, at the museum, where Wyatt Waters and his wife, Kristi, officially presented the artwork to the Rev. LeRoy White, pastor of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, and the church’s staff that manages the museum.
The church inherited the Banks house in 2011 from Frank Robinson Jr., the grandson of Banks. The house, located at 9 St. Catherine St., became a museum in 2020. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also the site of Natchez’s first Mississippi Freedom Trail marker.
Banks was the first Black physician in Natchez, and his home served as the headquarters for the Natchez NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
Newsome is one of several volunteers who operate the museum. She is joined by Dora Hawkins, Willie Woods, Jacqulyn B. Williams.
At Friday’s presentation, White thanked the Waters for their donation. He said he is excited about Rose Hill’s ownership of the house. “We’re going to show it off to make sure everybody all over Mississippi, as well as the world, know what Dr. John Banks stood for,” he said.
Mayor Dan Gibson also participated in the presentation. “What a blessing it is to have Kristi and Wyatt here in Natchez,” he said. “What is also such a blessing is, Wyatt is capturing so much of our history in such a beautiful way through his art, and it’s being shown all over.”
Gibson said people are discovering Natchez because of Wyatt Waters’ art. “He is internationally known, internationally travelled, and he is also a fabulous painter,” Gibson said.
Speaking to Wyatt Waters, Gibson said, “I’m grateful that you have done this for the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum.”
Wyatt Waters replied, “It’s our honor to be able to document this. A big part of our book is the story and not just the building.”
When Newsome thanked Wyatt Waters for the painting, he said, “Without y’all, there wouldn’t be anything for me to paint here. Thank you for maintaining this building and for keeping this history alive.”
In April 2025, Gibson met with the museum staff and kicked off a campaign to raise $15,000 to repair the building’s aging roof. The two-story wood-framed house was built in 1892. Gibson also honored Banks posthumously with a Key to the City, which he presented to Hawkins and other museum staff.
According to Williams, a museum volunteer, the mayor’s campaign succeeded. She said they hired Chimneyville Roofing of Jackson to repair the roof, and the company finished the job in October.
However, there is more work to be done. “We still need about $10,000 to $15,000 to repair the ceiling inside that was damaged by the roof leaks,” Williams said. “We also want to expand the museum to the rooms upstairs for our civil rights history. However, we need an elevator for ADA purposes.”
Williams said there is also a need for cosmetic work for the porch.
Tours of the museum are available by appointment. Information on tours or donations is available by calling 601-807-2537. All donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made out to the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum and mailed to P.O. Box 501, Natchez, MS 39121.