1. Hurricane Frederick struck Mississippi on September 5, 1979, causing significant damage and claiming five lives. The hurricane made landfall near Mobile Bay, Alabama, but its effects were felt across a wide area, including the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

2. On September 5, 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was laid to rest in Jackson, Mississippi, following his assassination by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith. Evers had been a key figure in the civil rights movement in Mississippi, working to desegregate schools and voter registration efforts.

3. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, a state agency dedicated to preserving segregation and preventing integration efforts, was disbanded by Governor William Waller on September 5, 1977. The Commission had been established in 1956 and was notorious for its surveillance and harassment of civil rights activists.

4. The first African American member of the Mississippi State Senate since Reconstruction, Robert G. Clark Jr., was elected on September 5, 1967. Clark represented Holmes County and served in the Senate until 2004.

5. Former governor of Mississippi, William F. Winter, was born on September 5, 1923. Winter was known for his progressive policies, including his support of education reform and racial reconciliation, and served as governor from 1980-1984.