A section of Hwy. 84 in Franklin County has been designated the “Mark ‘Peanut’ Youngblood Memorial Highway.”

The roadway was named in honor of fallen Mississippi Department of Transportation worker Mark Youngblood. The memorial highway begins one-half mile east of Log Cabin Road and extends east to Higginbotham Road.

Youngblood worked in the MDOT Bude Project Office for close to 10 years. He had previously worked in the oil, lumber, steel and gaming industries in the Franklin County area. He was in a fatal accident Sept. 24, 2019, while mowing right-of-way.

“Mark Youngblood enjoyed serving others and was an important part of the community,” said Southern Transportation District Commissioner Tom King. “It’s a tragedy each time we lose an MDOT employee, and it’s especially tragic when that loss of life occurs on the job. When one member of the MDOT family passes, we all mourn. We’re proud to honor his legacy today by dedicating a section of highway to him.”

The ceremony took place July 22, 2022, at Roxie Baptist Church.