A local church leader and a mother of the Bogalusa civil rights movement will be celebrated on her 90th birthday, with Sunday gatherings.

Mrs. Valeria P. Hicks, a prominent figure at Bethlehem Baptist Church and the wife of Robert “Bob” Hicks, the late Bogalusa civil rights leader, will celebrate her 90th birthday on Sunday, June 9. Bogalusa mayor Wendy Perrette will proclaim the day as “Mrs. Valeria P. Hicks Day” in the city of Bogalusa.

To help celebrate Hicks’ accomplishments and her impact on the city, parish and the state of Louisiana — as well as her 90th birthday — the public is invited to 11 a.m. church services at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, located at 837 E. Seventh St. in Bogalusa.

The public is also invited to join with Hicks for cake, ice cream and punch to celebrate her 90th birthday at the Bethlehem Community Center (a.k.a. the Rev. Aaron Thompson Center). This birthday celebration is free and has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

There is also a special online link for people that want to send a birthday message to Hicks through a “virtual birthday card” online. To send a birthday message, visit the following link: www.kudoboard.com/boards/EcGRvPka.