Ms. Martha James

Dr. H.K. Matthews
The Greene County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) will conduct several special events this weekend to honor the birthday and memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to Spiver W. Gordon, SCLC National Treasurer and local Greene County President.
“Our celebration programs will begin on Saturday, January 15, 2011 and run through Monday, January 17, 2011. This year’s program will also feature the selection of Greene County’s Persons of the Year,” said Gordon.
On Saturday, January 11, 2011 at 5:00PM there will be a “Freedom Gospel Singing Program” at the Eutaw Activity Center featuring gospel groups from Greene and surrounding counties.
On Monday, January 17, 2011, the program begins at 8:30 AM with the Countywide Freedom Unity Breakfast at the Eutaw Activity Center. Rev. Charlie Means, Pastor of the St. John’s Baptist Church in Boligee, Alabama will bring an inspirational message at the breakfast.
Following the breakfast, the SCLC chapter will hold its traditional march from the Activity Center uptown to the William M. Branch County Courthouse.
At the Courthouse, at 10:30AM, there will be a Countywide Freedom Rally featuring Rev. Dr. H. K. Matthews of Brewton, Alabama, an SCLC National Board Member as guest speaker. Other speakers will also participate. Matthews has been active with SCLC since the 1960’s and worked with Dr. King in south Alabama and west Florida. He is currently the pastor of Zion Fountain, AME Zion Church in Brewton.
“SCLC will also present awards to the ‘Greene County Persons of the Year’ at the Courthouse program. This year we are giving this award to Martha James of Eutaw and Esmer Walker of Union,” said Gordon.
“The criteria for the selection of our awardees was based on their outstanding community involvement and support for ‘those least among us’,” added Gordon.
Many other events are planned throughout the Black Belt to commemorate Dr. King’s Birthday. The University of Alabama, Stillman College and Shelton State Community College will be holding their 22nd Annual Realizing the Dream Concert on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 7:30 PM at the Moody Music Building on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa.
The concert will feature the World-premier of Adolphus Hailstork’s musical and choral composition – “ Dream, Child. Hope.” Tickets are $15 and can be secured by calling 205/348-7111 or www.realizingthe dream.ua.edu.