Fifteen years ago, Julie Holt was able to execute her dream of making Quitman a model community for all to see. She wanted to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of blacks and whites coming together in unity and take away the stigma from the South regarding race relations.
She decided to bring people together with a parade of unity, using themes that would help unify the city. She has used a variety of ideas over the years: A Salute to Nurses, A Salute to Teachers, A Salute to Pastors, A Salute Through Sports, etc. The very first Unity Parade featured Judge Tobey Bartee and Attorney Gilford Dabbs as the Grand Marshals.
This year, the parade will have the theme of “Coming Together in the Spirit of Music” and will take place on Saturday, January 15, at noon.
The parade will feature the QHS Big Blue Crew, Heidelberg Band and special guests, the Greenwood High School Marching Band, and Slow and Easy Corvette Car Clubs. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Terrence Davis.
Anyone interested in participating in the parade this year will need to pay a $25 entry fee. The parade will take the same route as the Christmas parade does.
“It is my dream, or vision, that Quitman will rise up to the occasion full force and participate in the parade in attendance and entries and that the transformation will heal all the past injustices, strengthen the community, and make Quitman a better place to live for all,” proclaimed Julie.
At 7:00 p.m., the MLK Unity Parade Committee will host the first Color Purple Awards Banquet at The Meeting Place on Highway 18 West just outside of Quitman. There will be a skit from the movie The Color Purple with music by Aakeela. The special guest will be Terrence Davis and Band and the
