LOXLEY, Alabama — For the 11th straight year, the Loxley Area Martin Luther King Group held a march and program in Loxley to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Held each year during the nationwide Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on the third Monday of January to commemorate his birthday on Jan. 15, the program began with a march up Highway 59 beginning at the Loxley Church of God to the Loxley Civic Center, commemorating the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery that created National support for federal voting rights legislation.

The march was followed by a short program at the Loxley Civic Center, featuring youth-led singing and readings from King’s writings and speeches. The theme for this year’s program was “A Changing World for an In-Time Movement.”

Presided by Eryka Hobby, the program featured a welcom by A.J. Fowler, solo by Trinity Walton, a poem by Georgette Turner and a praise dance by LaToya Bradshaw.

In between featured performances, Hobby read quotes by King on education, tolerance and service.

Inspirational speaker Shirley Ann Carroll Scott of Spanish Fort served as guest speaker for this year's program.

Scott is a member of the Mt. Aid Missionary Baptist Church led by the Rev. George Collins, pastor, where she serves as music ministry directory, mission department president, church secretary, secretary for the Willing Workers’ Ministry, Bible instructor for Women’s Ministry, teacher, Women’s Sunday School Bible Class, deaconess and missionary.

She is a Gospel songwriter with some selections nationally recorded and writes skits, plays and poetry.

Scott serves as president of the Women’s Department of the First Eastern Shore District Baptist Association; member/treasurer of the Port City United Voices Gospel Music Workshop of America; member/program coordinator for the Mobile County Mass Choir; and is a member, Gideon’s Women’s Auxiliary.

A graduate of Baldwin County High School, Scott received her Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama State College and master’s degree from the University of South Alabama. She is a retired teacher in the Baldwin County School System.

She is married to Deacon Willie Scott and they have one son, Derek, along with several grandchildren.

With racial violence making national headlines over the last year, along with the remembrance of the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, King’s message of peace will certainly be foremost on everyone’s minds, said Ronnie McBride, who has organized the event since its inception.

Introduced as legislation by U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford of Pennsylvania and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, MLK Day was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

Organized through the vision of resident Gloria Autry, McBride said, the purpose of the program is to bring the community together.