Next Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. day community observance will feature grand marshals Rev. James B. and Mrs. Mamie T. Austin and guest speaker Rev. Dr. Willie Adams.

Rev. James B. and Mrs. Mamie T. Austin were born and raised in Attapulgus. Their parents were the deceased Elder James R. and Mrs. Edith Austin and Mr. Lee and Mrs. Alzura Taylor

They were childhood sweethearts. Both graduated valedictorian from high school. They matriculated and graduated from Morris Brown and Savannah State Colleges, respectively. Rev. and Mrs. Austin received post-graduate degrees. Upon graduation from high school and college, they took separate paths, but later rekindled their relationship and were united in Holy Matrimony on June 5, 1964.

They were employed by and retired from the Decatur County Board of Education. Mr. Austin retired after 45 years of employment. After retiring from the Decatur County Board of Education, he taught for 5 years at the Bainbridge Probation Substance Abuse Treatment Center (PSAT). Mrs. Austin retired after 25 years of employment.

They are the proud parents of three children, Michael, Jeanette and Jody, and are equally as proud of their six grandchildren, Talisha, Taylor, Jocelyn, Hadley, Jaiana and Corbin, and on great-grandchild, Braylen Leigh.

Rev. Dr. Willie Adams was born in Bryan, Texas, and completed his early education in Texas. After years of continued education, including a degree from City College of San Francisco State University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University Divinity School.

He then received the call of the gospel ministry and became a licentiate in 1977 and then ordained as Baptist Minister in 1982.

He has worked and served the Lord everywhere from California to Conyers, Georgia. Willing to travel and spread the word from God, Rev. Adams was sent to pastor Resurrection A.M.E Church in Richmond, California from 2005-2006. Because of his ability to transform facilities and increase membership, Rev. Adams was sent to Pastor Fountain of Hope A.M.E Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 2006. He immediate established the theme “First things first”, inspired by the scripture found in Haggai 1:4.

Rev. Adams currently serves as pastor of Nelson Chapel A.M.E. Church at 640 Hall Street in Bainbridge.

An opening ceremony will be held at the Decatur County Courthouse at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, followed by a march to Hutto Middle School at 10:45 a.m. A memorial program will be held in the HMS gym at 11:45 a.m. Honorees at the event will be the 2018 State Champion Bainbridge Bearcat football team.