Photo by Donna Campbell/Sixth graders high five incoming fifth graders in the Rick Ward Memorial Hallway on the first day of school.

There is a new name for the main hallway at Lipsey Middle School.

Moving forward, the sixth-grade hallway will be called the Rick Ward Memorial Hallway.

Ward taught in the Brookhaven School District for 29 years, and 20 of those years were at Lipsey. He taught science in both grades, but for the past few years he taught just sixth-graders.

It was those children’s parents who wanted to honor the late teacher’s memory.

“This was a parent movement,” said Principal Rita Robinson. “Mr. Ward was a longtime employee at the school and he was well liked by the children and parents.”

Ward, 62, died June 10 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

The Lipsey PTA will purchase a metal plaque that recognizes the hall has been named in Ward’s memory and also pay for its installation.

“He was really looking forward to retiring, because this upcoming school year was going to be his last,” Robinson said.

Ward and student Austin Edwards, who was killed in May, were remembered on the first day of class with a moment of silence at an assembly of sixth-graders.