A proud tradition returns to DeKalb County next Friday.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is set for Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. in the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur, the county announced Tuesday morning.

The keynote address will be delivered by Francys Johnson, state president of the Georgia NAACP.

Johnson is the senior minister at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Pembroke and Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church in Statesboro. He also practices criminal and civil law with The Johnson Firm P.C. Attorneys and Counselors of Law in Statesboro.

The 2017 tribute marks the 33rd consecutive year DeKalb will host the employee-planned event honoring the life and legacy of King.

The celebration is free and open to the public. The auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive.

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