Effingham County’s traditional Martin Luther King Day Parade to honor the renowned civil rights leader is set for 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16. As always, it will proceed down Laurel Street in Springfield. 

Rev. Lon Harden, the chairperson of the MLK, Jr., Day Committee and the pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Guyton, announced that Dr. Torian White, the principal of South Effingham High School and a valedictorian graduate of the school, will serve as the parade Grand Marshal. Dr. White is the son of Herlene and Reverend Delmons White.

Prior to the parade, Harden and Lucy Powell, a member of the MLK Committee and an original member of the Effingham County Branch NAACP since 1968, announced the annual

Homer L. Wallace Unity Breakfast will take place at the Effingham County Recreation Department Gym, Route 119 South, in Springfield on Jan. 16, at 7:30 a.m.  

The late Homer L. Wallace is the only African-American to serve on the Effingham County Board of Commissioners and was the co-founder of the Effingham County Branch NAACP in 1968.

Also, Powell said the youth event will return to the Effingham County Recreation Department Gym at noon. The winners of the annual Martin Luther King Day theme, essay and poster contests will be announced at the event. 

Members of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Committee said they extend an invitation to all residents of the Effingham County community to attend one or all of the events.