MOULTRIE, Ga. — Three events on Sunday and Monday, Jan. 14 and 15, will celebrate the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The events’ theme will be “Promoting Unity in the Community,” according to a press release from organizers.

The NAACP and the Colquitt County Interdenominational Christian Alliance will have their annual MLK church service at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at Union Baptist Church, 103 Second St. N.W.

The speaker will be the Rev. Daniel Simmons, senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. Simmons has been in the ministry for 33 years and is celebrating his 26th year as the senior pastor of Mount Zion.

On Monday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m., also at Union Baptist Church, the Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie and Southwest Georgia Bank will mark the 30th year of their combined King holiday celebration.

The Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie is also celebrating it’s 60th year of existence. The club was organized  in 1958 under the leadership of Jestina B. Lewis along with 11 other women from the area. Its purpose and focus is character development. Club members share in the original purpose to make better communities through their participation in many volunteer activities in the community, according to the press release.

This year’s community service award will be presented at the Monday morning event to former City Councilwoman Susie Magwood-Thomas. In addition to her being a member of the Women’s Federated Club she has served as the site supervisor for Culbertson Head Start Center and manager for BellSouth in the Atlanta area. She has numerous volunteer affiliations including the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority, the Boys and Girls Club, Serenity House, Colquitt County Archway Partnership, Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary and Moultrie Northwest/Oak Circle Neighborhood Watch Association. She is the founder of “It Takes A Village and the Villagers.”

The speaker at the event will be the Rev. Jeremy G. Rich of Thomasville, Ga. Rich is a native of Milton, Fla. He is a graduate of Florida A & M University, where he majored in political science with a minor in secondary education. He was called to the ministry in 2001. In 2012, he succeeded the Rev. Isaac L. Mullins, Sr. as pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church in Thomasville.

To culminate the weekend celebration, organizers invite the entire community to downtown Moultrie for the annual MLK parade. Participants can still join. The only requirement is that you have appropriate signage for your float or car.

Lineup is at 1:15 p.m. and the parade begins at 2 p.m. Come out at enjoy the CCHS band, visiting bands, school and community floats and Packer basketball players.

The grand marshal for this year’s parade is Dorothy Nell Blount.

Blount received her education at Moultrie High School for Negro Youth and Moultrie Technical College. She was married to Verdell “Bull” Blount. Together they built their concrete business, Blount and Sons Concrete Finishing. This business has stood the test of time, even after the passing of Mr. Blount. The knowledge of the business was passed to his sons and Mrs. Blount continues to manage the office. Together Mr. and Mrs. Blount are the parents of eight children.

Mrs. Blount is a former member of the Alfresco Club and the Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie. She currently serves on the Planning and Development Committee for the City of Moultrie and is a volunteer for the Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary. She is also an active member of the Shaw Gladiators.