By Tyra Jackson

The Selma Times-Journal

Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will honor 14 individuals for their service to their communities.

The church will host its Founder’s Day and Magnificent Seven event on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. at Ward Chapel. The program’s theme is “Going Above and Beyond Through Service.”

The ceremony strives to honor unsung heroes, said the Rev. Anderson of Ward Chapel.

“When someone does something, and they continue to perpetuate the good will, we thought it was a chance to go back and tell them thank you,” Anderson said

The female honorees include, Marley Houser, Yvonne Kelly, Lynda Lowery, Sadie Moss, Nascri Hinds, Teresa Carter and Margaret Perry.

The male honorees include the Rev, Tenorris Davis, the Rev. Raymond Brown, the Rev. Myers Hawkins, the Rev. Thsylee Dickerson, Judge Bob Armstrong, the Rev. Andre Jones and the Rev. John Lumpkin.

The ceremony is non-denominational.

The day will start with a reception, where honorees will be able to fellowship with other award recipients. Honorees will receive an introduction, where their biographies will be read.

“They’ll have a worship service, where we’ll celebrate them,” Anderson said. “The whole community will get to fellowship with these individuals that have been rewarded.”

Anderson said the day would also honor the African Methodist Episcopal Church founder Richard Allen.

“Richard Allen was a great abolitionist. He did a lot of things in the community. We remember Richard Allen for his great attributes and how he did things in the community,” Anderson said. “We thought it would be a great way to tell Richard Allen thank you as our founder. It’s also a way to tell people in our community thank you.”