The concerned citizens of Varnado, Angie and Live Oak will celebrate the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday, Jan. 19, in Varnado. The parade will begin at noon in Varnado and proceed to Varnado High School, where a program is planned followed by refreshments and activities. The public is invited to attend.

The 2019 King and Queen of the parade are Rev. Argene (A.R.) Moses and his wife of 39 years, Mrs. Rosa Peters-Moses.

King Moses is the second child born to the late Ardean Moses Footes. His grandparents are the late Jerry and Frances Moses. He is a native of Angie and a 1963 graduate of Wesley Ray High School.

Rev. Moses has a life of service to God, family, country and his fellow man. After high school he served three years in the Army proudly as a radio operator and paratrooper, which he often fondly speaks of.

He is a born again, baptized believer in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, commencing on Jan. 1, 1973. He was called by God into the ministry in May of 1973, licensed by the late Rev. Linwood Bolton Sr. of Center Missionary Baptist Church, of Angie, in June of 1973, and ordained by the Rev. W.J. Johnson, Tree of Light Baptist Church of Bogalusa, in July of 1983.

He has served the Lord in many ways over the years. Among those are former pastor of Pink Hill Missionary Baptist Church in McComb, Miss., former associate minister at Tree of Life Baptist Church for 29 years, and presently associate minister of Sunlight Baptist Church in Sandy Hook, Miss. The joy of his life is serving as a volunteer minister at Rayburn Correctional Institute for 37 years.

Among his community service is coaching Little League baseball and football teams, volunteering as the “Voice of the Varnado High School Wildcats” for many years, and first president of the Washington Parish Foster Care Association.

Queen Rosa Moses is the daughter of the late Melodaysee Peters, Jessie Mae Peters Anderson of Varnado, and Mrs. Vivian Rogers Peters of Tickfaw. Godparents are the late Matthew and Della Morris, of Varnado.

The Queen wishes to honor and commemorate the life and service of her father, the late Melodysee Peters who spent over 30 years serving in various capacities in the community to help better the conditions for all citizens. He was a devoted entrepreneur, civic leader, and passionate fighter for civil rights.

Rosa, a native of Varnado, graduated from Central Memorial High School in 1968 and Dillard University in New Orleans in 1972, with honors. Having received a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing she became licensed as a registered nurse in Louisiana in 1972. After eight years at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans as a staff nurse, she re-located to Angie and gained employment at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington for the past 38 years.

Mrs. Moses obtained a Master of Nursing degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences in New Orleans, with a specialty in adult health and Illness, and staff development. This degree gave her the opportunity to use her innate gift to teach. Her favorite expression is “I was born teaching, I just couldn’t get my words out.”

While at Lakeview, she has served as a critical care nurse, Interim Chief Nursing Officer, and presently Administrative Director of Education with many accomplishments.

She is a faithful member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Sidney Burns Jr., a former King of the Martin Luther King Jr. parade.

The King and Queen are the proud parents of two — one son and daughter, and seven grandchildren who are a delight of their lives.