There will be a number of events planned locally for the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Monday, Jan. 21.

Lineup for a march and parade will take place at 8:45 a.m., and the opening ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m., at the Water Street entrance of the Decatur County Courthouse. The march and parade will start at 10:30 a.m., and travel from the courthouse to Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, located at 849 Martin Luther King Drive in Bainbridge.

The march will then continue to Hutto Middle School at 11:15 a.m.

The grand marshal of the parade will be Peter Bruton, the former county coroner and current owner of Bruton Mortuary. The guest speaker at HMS will be Bishop Elect Dr. Sylvester Robinson, the senior pastor of St. Mark Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, in Quincy, Fla.

All community, civic, church, school and youth organizations are invited to join in the ceremonies. Those who wish to participate are asked to call Liz Tomlin at (229) 400-6484 or Dorothy Love at (229) 248-6009.

Bruton is a graduate of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1973, and a member of Nelson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served as sheriff of Decatur County for three months, and as Decatur County coroner for 16 years.

Bruton is married to Charlene Collier Bruton and he has three children, Elmaree, Ashley and Peter Jr.

Robinson, a nationally recognized orator, has 30 years in the Christian ministry. He regularly preaches the gospel on the Christian Television Network, and was recently interviewed on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He also serves as the honorary chaplain for the Midway (Fla.) Police Department.