Voorhees University Hosts Annual MLK Community Breakfast Honoring Local Leaders

Voorhees University hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast on January 2, 2026, beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center. The 2026 theme, "Honoring the Dream. Advancing the Vision," framed a program that combined music, reflection, and public recognition to spotlight acts of service across the region.

President Ronnie Hopkins addressed attendees, placing the gathering in the context of action as well as remembrance: “At Voorhees University, we believe Dr. King’s dream calls us not only to remembrance, but to action. We are committed to preparing leaders who will serve with purpose, shape their communities, and step boldly into tomorrow.” The program included musical selections from a community choir and a formal call to service that reinforced the event’s focus on unity and collective responsibility.

Seven community leaders received the Drum Major for Justice Award in recognition of extraordinary service: the Honorable Harold Johnson, Mayor of Denmark; Dr. Valarie Cave, Superintendent of the Allendale County School System; the Honorable Wilma Edmonds, Mayor of Govan; Tonya L. James, educator and community activist; Lenon L. Brooks, educator, business owner, and church and community activist; Constance D. Ferguson, civic activist and retired educator; and James Wallace, lifelong social justice and community activist. Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were also presented to Bishop Virgin Johnson Jr., municipal court judge and pastor, and Rev. Dr. Rosemary Griffin, nationally recognized gospel choir director and ordained minister.

Tickets for the breakfast had been offered at $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight, and organizers provided contact information for further inquiries; Dr. Thelma Sojourner could be reached at 803.383.4079 or tsojourner@voorhees.edu. The gathering continued Voorhees University’s long-standing emphasis on faith, leadership, and service, embodied in the institution’s guiding mantra, THE NEXT LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.

Founded in 1897 by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, Voorhees University is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Episcopal Church and the United Negro College Fund. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

For residents of Bamberg County, the breakfast served both as recognition of local civic leaders and as a reminder of opportunities for civic participation. By honoring educators, elected officials, and longtime activists, the event reinforced ties between higher education and community leadership and aimed to bolster local initiatives in education, social justice, and public service.