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Rev. Lon Harden named grand marshal of the MLK Day parade
Lon Harden
Rev. Lon Harden, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Guyton, is the grand marshal of the 2025 Martin Luther King Day parade in Springfield. (Submitted photo.)

Special to the Herald

Rev. Lon Maurice Harden has been named the 2025 Grand Marshal of the Effingham County Martin Luther King Day Parade. The parade steps off from Madison Avenue onto Laurel Street in Springfield, Monday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. The theme for 2025 Is “Beyond the Dream. Toward the Promise.”

Rev. Harden is the son of Juanita and the late Deacon Lewis Harden. He has been married to Lady Shelia Reese Harden for 34 years. He is the father of three daughters and “PaPa” to two grandsons.

Rev. Harden is the pastor of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Guyton. At Macedonia he has served as a faithful member, deacon, Sunday school superintendent, chairman of deacons and youth pastor. He serves as the moderator of the first district of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Association, also in Guyton.

Rev. Harden is an active member of the Effingham County community.

As an entrepreneur Rev. Harden is the owner and operator of Harlawn Yard Services, LLC. Rev. Harden is a community leader, member of the Effingham County NAACP, and has served as the president of the Effingham County MLK observance day committee for 14 years.

Rev. Harden also serves as the chairperson of the City of Guyton’s planning and zoning board, the financial secretary for the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, and a member of the chaplain board for the Effingham Health System, a member of the Effingham Health System Foundation and the Effingham County Victim Witness. He is also the chaplain for the Widowson Masonic Lodge #396 of Guyton.

Rev. Harden is a retired United States Marine where he served as the religious lay leader during boot camp training. He retired from Signature Flight Support, Savannah after 32 years where he was the duty manager. He was personally chosen to be the face of Signature Flight Support, globally, where his face is seen in airports and magazines worldwide!

The MLK Day festivities start with Homer L. Wallace Unity Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Effingham Health Systems Education Complex, on W. First St., Springfield. A $15 donation is requested for the breakfast, catered by Southern Kafé on 17 in Guyton. The guest speaker will be Pooler City Manager Heath Lloyd.  After the parade, the Youth Award Program will be held at the Effingham County Recreation Department, 808 Hwy. 119 in Springfield, beginning at noon. The speaker will be Jacoby Jones, owner of the Youth United Learning Center in Eden.