According to archives.gov, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The 156th anniversary of the proclamation will be observed this coming New Year’s Day. Locally, a 2019 Liberty County Emancipation Proclamation Observance program will be held Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 at noon, at First Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Riceboro. The speaker for the occasion is Pastor Richard Hayes of New Day Community Church in Walthourville.

For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Hermon Scott, Emancipation Committee President, at 912-368-2258, or Lana Walthour at 912-369-3407.