By Chelsea Vance | The Selma Times-Journal

A service next month at Judson College in Marion will honor Civil Rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson.

The free event will be held on Feb. 13 in the auditorium of Judson College at 11 a.m.

The following groups will perform: Little Zion MBC Mass Choir, Joseph White off DOA Mime, B.E.T. Sunday`s Best participant and gospel artist Kefia Rollerson, a local Girl Scouts Group and others.

Gospel musical group Voices of Praise, formerly known as VOP, is hosting the event.

Kristen Telley, member of the group and senior psychology major at Judson College, hopes to recognize Jackson and Marion’s history in the voting rights movement.

“I wanted to try something new and bring recognition and be respectful in honoring the city of Marion and Jimmy Lee Jackson,” Telley said.

It has been a big dream of hers to see this program come into fruition.

The guest speaker will be pastor Damon T. Betts of Little Zion Missionary Church in Athens.

Betts said he feels privileged to be asked to be the speaker for appreciation. He believes that it is important for them to know Black history.

“I’m going to basically deal with taking advantage of the time that we are privileged to have. I’m going to center it around young folks and what they are doing with their lives,” Betts said.

“We are living in a time where young people are forgetting where our people have come from and the sacrifices that they made for what we have today.”