It is time once again to honor America’s former civil rights leaders, and coming off the heels of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, Atmore residents are switching their focus to celebrating the life of the “mother of the modern day Civil Rights movement” – Rosa Parks.

Parks gained national attention after being arrested on Dec. 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white patron.

A group of locals are preparing to gather together for an annual breakfast held near her birthday in order to pay homage to her courage and sacrifice.

This year’s breakfast will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m. at the Family Life Center on Martin Luther King Avenue. This year’s speaker is scheduled to be chief of the Community and Economic Development Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Beatrice M. Forniss.

A Mobile native, Forniss is the former director of the Governor’s Resources and Economic Assistance Programs at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Forniss graduated from Blount High School and attended Moblie State Junior College before transferring to Alabama State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She went on to earn a master’s degree from ASU in counseling.

Forniss taught in the public school system where she also served as a counselor. She is also a member of many organizations including:

Civil Justice Foundation; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; the Montgomery Area United Way board of directors; Leadership Montgomery; the Volunteer and Information Board; Alabama State Employees Association; Civil Justice Foundation; chairman of the ASU Foundation Board.

Lillie Johnson, coordinator of this year’s event, said anyone over the age of 15 is welcomed to attend.