Opal Lee, the Fort Worth activist known around the country as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, celebrates her 100th birthday on Wednesday, Oct. 7. And the day comes with two major milestones attached to her name. Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., the National Juneteenth Museum hosts a demolition event called Clearing the Way at the Southside Community Center, marking the official start of construction on the future museum. Lee spent years pushing for Juneteenth to be recognized as a federal holiday, a goal reached in 2021. Now the museum built around that history is moving from plans into construction.

Wednesday evening brings a different kind of celebration. Former first lady Michelle Obama will appear at the Fort Worth Convention Center at 6 p.m. for “A Conversation with Michelle Obama,” part of the museum’s Uniting Voices speaker series. Tickets range from $150 to $750.

For families in Waxahachie and across Ellis County, the story matters beyond the tickets and the speakers. Lee is a Texas figure whose work changed how the entire country marks June 19. Her 100th birthday lands on the same week the museum she championed begins to rise. Have you ever been to a Juneteenth celebration in Ellis County? Tell us about it in the comments.