AUGUSTA, Ga. ()- A state historical marker will be unveiled in Augusta – honoring a man who was a trailblazer during his time.

The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, in collaboration with the Georgia Historical Society and Pamplin College at Augusta University, will be hosting the major ceremony.

Two of them got accepted here in Augusta and students out of Pamplin College of AU have been waiting for this moment.

It will honor Rev. Dr. William Jefferson White.

He was a religious and civil rights leader who lived most of his life in Augusta.

He wore many hats like starting the Augusta Institute, now Morehouse College.

In 1880, he founded Augusta’s Ware High School and ‘Georgia Baptist’, a weekly African American newspaper that addressed religious and civil rights issues.

AU’s Dr. Melissa DeVelvis and her students started the process for the marker 2 years ago.

“It goes to the Committee for the Georgia Historical Society. They receive at least 30 applications every year, and they select about six. We were one of those chosen. And it’s not just us; the congregation for the Children of Israel Synagogue downtown also received one this year, which will be a month after ours. So in August, they were granted two state historic markers this year, which is really exciting,” said DeVelvis.

The unveiling will take place at Harmony Baptist Church on Hopkins St at 10am.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir