MLK parade, church services approaching

BY TRAVIS HAIRGROVE

THAIRGROVE@HERALDBANNER.COM

Despite the cold weather that could be headed toward North Texas in the coming weeks, the Greenville and Hunt County communities still plan to host events in memory of the Rev Martin Luther King, Jr.

In celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and his dream of a country in which people are “judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” Greenville is to be the scene of both a parade and a worship service.

The parade will be Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. in downtown Greenville with line-up for the entries starting at 9 a.m. at the Greenville Farmers Market at 2201 Lee St.

The parade will continue west on Lee Street, south on Wright Street and east on Washington Street.

The grand marshal for the parade this year has been announced as longtime East Texas A&M University educator Dr. Lavelle Hendricks and this year’s junior grand marshal will be Greenville High School

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student Khloe Jones.

When Hendricks first joined East Texas A&M (then East Texas State University) more than 30 years ago, he served as assistant director of the Sam Rayburn Memorial Student Center followed by a stint as assistant dean of students. But for the past 20 years, his primary professional focus has been as a professor of counseling, mostly guiding students on how to approach counseling those who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

In addition to his work at the university, Hendricks is known in Commerce for serving on the Commerce ISD School Board as well as with the Rotary Club and as president of the Hunt/Hopkins County African-American Leadership Conference.

Those who would like to sign up to be in the parade may contact the Rev. Deana Lowe at (903) 268-6364.

As for the worship service in Greenville, the Greenville Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance has scheduled it for Jan. 20 at noon at Pilgrim Tabernacle Church at 3620 Washington St.

In addition to the two Greenville events celebrating King’s legacy, a church service is also planned in Commerce at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church at 202 Champion Lane on Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m.