On Sunday, January 14 Colleton County and surrounding areas came together and celebrated the 95th birthday of fallen civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with the 36th annual parade, sponsored by the Walterboro Shrine Club of Arabian Temple #139. A crowd of spectators lined Jefferies Boulevard to the Ivanhoe Shopping Center area. Serving as the Parade Marshal was Mrs. Anna Stevens Bright, a local minister, retired educator, published author, journalist, and community activist. She was chauffeured by local resident, Charles Mitchell, in his white and blue 1965 Oldsmobile Convertible. According to Herman G. Bright, who has served as the chairman of this parade for over 25 years, there were 76 diverse entries ranging from floats, an entourage of colorful Corvettes, walking units, the Colleton County High School Band of Blue, to decorated SUVs, cars, and trucks.
The entries were judged in four categories, and each one had a first and a second place winner. The categories and winners were as follows: Original Float—Colleton Honor Guard / Colleton County Republican Party; Commercial Float—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ® Xi Omega Omega Chapter / Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. ® Walterboro Alumnae Chapter; Walking Unit—Knights of Pythagoras / Colleton Branch of the NAACP; and All Other Units—Colleton Travel Cheerleaders / A Soulful Taste. The Walterboro Shrine Club of Arabian Temple #139 wishes to thank all who participated, supported, and attended the parade.
