Two separate events in Athens will offer citizens a variety of ways to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday today, from marching to singing to celebrating.
The morning will kick-off with the annual Athens-Limestone Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday March in downtown Athens. Participants will gather at 8:50 a.m. and march around The Square at 9 a.m. Marchers will march to the Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street for a program.
The program will start at 9:30 a.m. Local students will read their winning essays on this year’s theme, “A Decision Today, Impacting Tomorrow.” The Round Island Creek Male Chorus will perform, and refreshments will be available after the program.
The march and program are sponsored by the local NAACP chapter, City of Athens and Limestone County Commission.
Another traditional program is the Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park Committee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Ceremony. This is the 16th year for the program, held at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church on Westmoreland Street.
Committee member and Athens City Councilman Jimmy Gill said the program will start at 11 a.m. and lunch will be provided afterwards.
This year’s guest speaker is Limestone County Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Woodroof. The title of his speech is, “The Right Voice at the Right Time.”
“I will be focusing on taking a stand and making a difference,” Woodroof said.
He will reference King and Maxine E. Harris Pulley.
The Round Island Creek Male Chorus will perform at this event also.
The program will conclude with the committee’s naming of its Dr. C. Eric Lincoln Humanitarian of the Year award winner. The committee gives the award in memory of Lincoln, who was born in 1924 in Athens and was the 1939 valedictorian of the former all-black Trinity High School. Lincoln was an author, theologian, ordained Methodist minister and a professor of religion at Duke University. His book "The Avenue, Clayton City" won the Lillian Smith Award for best Southern fiction in 1988.
The public is invited to participate in both events.
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Related Photos
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From left, Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park Committee representatives Jimmy Gill and Robbin Hines stand with Judge James Woodroof at the Limestone County Courthouse on Friday. Woodroof will be the guest speaker Monday at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. News Courier/Rebecca Croomes
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Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks and Limestone County Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee this week signed a proclamation asking residents to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. Those at the proclamation signing were Marks, seated, and from left, Benard Simelton, local NAACP chapter member; Holly Hollman, city of Athens grant coordinator/communications specialist; local NAACP President Wilbert Woodruff; Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson; and Athens Fire and Rescue Chief Tony Kirk. Courtesy photo/City of Athens
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