Voorhees Hosts First Community Wide Breakfast
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Recognizing Local “Drum Majors”
December 14, 2023 (Denmark, SC) —Voorhees University is proud to announce the first-ever community-wide breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to be held on Monday, January 15th. To be held at 7:45 am on the Voorhees campus in Massachusetts Hall, this momentous event will be the sole community-wide breakfast honoring Dr. King in Denmark and Bamberg County.
The celebration aims to pay tribute to the enduring life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as to recognize the remarkable contributions of local “Drum Majors” – our esteemed community leaders. Dr. Cleveland Sellers, Jr., former president of Voorhees University and Civil Rights activist who participated in the Orangeburg Massacre of 1968, is among the area leaders being recognized. The Denmark native and Voorhees High School (now Voorhees University) graduate will receive the inaugural Drum Major Lifetime Achievement Award.
Also receiving area Drum Major Awards are: Dr. Margaret Gilmore (Allendale), former superintendent of Allendale County Schools; Mrs. Samella Porter (Bamberg), a dedicated community activist and senior citizen organizer; the Honorable Marcus A. Rivera (Barnwell), the first African-American elected mayor of the City of Barnwell, SC; Reverend Floyd Hughes (Blackville), pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church; Reverend Isaiah Odom (Denmark), the longest-serving Bamberg County Councilman from 1978-2020; Ms. Peggy Tyler (Norway-Posthumously), educator in Denmark-Olar School District II; and Elder Priscilla D. Spruill (Olar), a pastor, community organizer, youth leader, and adult volunteer.
This groundbreaking MLK celebration promises to be a moment of unity and recognition for the individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the local community. Voorhees University invites the public to join in commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and celebrating the “Drum Majors” who continue to lead the way towards positive change. Tickets for this event are $40 each. To purchase tickets and for information on sponsorship opportunities contact Dr. Thelma Sojourner at 803.780.1071 or tsojourner@voorhees.edu.
About Voorhees: Founded by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright in 1897, Voorhees University is a distinguished private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Episcopal Church and the United Negro College Fund. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university bestows both baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Voorhees University is guided by a mission is to produce highly qualified graduates who coalesce intellect and faith in pursuit of life-long learning, healthy living, the betterment of society, and an abiding faith in God. For more details about Voorhees University, please visit www.voorhees.edu
