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By Kris Harrell

Local organizations are planning to commemorate Martin Luther King Day on Jan 20 by bringing the community together to celebrate the day.

The Butler County Civic League is organizing their annual Freedom Memorial Breakfast, a festive event highlighting the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 8 a.m on Jan 20. 

“[This event] has been going on ever since the early 1970’s. I joined in 2004 and ever since then we’ve been having one every year,” said Thelma Nixon, chairperson for the Butler County Civic League. “It started out real small, but it has really grown, now it has expanded.”

The organization will provide a full breakfast, complete with bacon, sausage, grits and more. 

Alongside the meal, the Butler County Civic League has lined up a variety of speakers, named guests and performers. These include Rev. Olby Bedgood who will be performing the invocation and blessing of the food, and the Greenville High School Junior Officer Training Corps (JROTC) will present the colors and help with serving. 

Tickets are available for $5 for an individual ticket, or $45 for ten tickets. 

“I know we just hope each and every one can come out and join and be with us and enjoy the program,” Nixon said.

Later in the day, the Butler County Concern Citizens will present their annual MLK Day parade starting at 12 p.m. Floats, cars, bands and more will line up on Herbert Street starting at 10:30 a.m. 

The Butler County Concern Citizens have been organizing this parade for the past five years for the citizens of Greenville and the surrounding cities. 

“We wanted to honor Dr. King and Greenville had never had a parade for Dr. King, so we decided several years ago to do that in his honor,” said Robert Blankenship, president of Butler County Concern Citizens and founder of the MLK Day Parade. “We use this time of year [and] we give back and help so many people in the community.
“We don’t charge for the participants. It’s where we honor Dr King [and] give back to the community at the same time.”

During the parade, the organization will also honor Gertrude Fails-Payne as the Grand Marshal of the parade. 

Fails-Payne recently celebrated her 100th birthday, and will be riding in the parade.