Sheriff Eddie Hawkins and Lt. Rhonda Sanders lower the state flag on Monday afternoon at the Lowndes County Courthouse after the Legislature voted to retire the state flag on Sunday. Mississippi was the last state to have a Confederate battle emblem on its flag. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Sheriff Eddie Hawkins unclips the state flag while Lt. Rhonda Sanders holds it on Monday afternoon at the Lowndes County Courthouse. The Senate voted 37-14 to retire the flag and the House voted 91-23 on Sunday. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

Lt. Rhonda Sanders tears up after removing the state flag from the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn on Monday afternoon. “It’s a great feeling,” Sanders said, especially because of her roles in law enforcement and as an African American mother. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

CMSD Custodial Supervisor Susie Summerville lowers the state flag on Monday afternoon at Brandon Elementary School after the Legislature voted to retire the state flag on Sunday. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said he would sign whatever bill the Legislature decides on, and it is expected he will sign in the next few days. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff

CMSD Custodial Supervisor Susie Summerville unclips the state flag from its chain on Monday afternoon at Brandon Elementary School after the Legislature voted to retire the state flag on Sunday. Summerville has been responsible for raising and lowering the flags at Brandon Elementary for the last 15 years. “It feels good,” she said of lowering it for the last time on Monday. Photo by: Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff