Eunice native Sandra Gayle Johnson Simmons will be the keynote speaker at the 33rd Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. City-Wide Celebration on Jan. 19.
The theme is “Moving Forward Together ... Who Got Next? It Takes a Village,” according to a news release from the committee headed by Jacqueline Vallare. Mark Dupre is co-chairman of the committee.
Events include a 9 a.m. prayer breakfast at New Zion Baptist Church Family Life Center.
A parade will be held at 2 p.m. from the Eunice City Hall to New Zion Baptist Church. Line-up for the parade begins at 12:30 p.m.
The celebration program is to begin at 3 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church.
Simmons is the fifth child of Willie and Madie Johnson’s seven children. She two children, W. Dupree Simmons and Jonique Guidry, and two grandchildren, Mikel Iman Jones and Carter Dupree Simmons.
Simmons graduated from Eunice High School where she was a National Honor Society graduate of its first fully integrated class.
She earned a bachelor of science degree from Xavier University, New Orleans, and was awarded the University’s Gold Medal of Service Award and was elected Miss Xavier University 1974. In addition, she was the first Sugar Bowl Queen during that time.
Simmons earned a masters degree in business administration from University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a master’s in education from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston. She has also studied at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, University of New Orleans, University of Louisiana – Lafayette, Southern University, Baton Rouge, and Grambling State University.
Simmons worked as human resource specialist and manager in labor relations, executive compensation and benefits, corporate training and development for Westinghouse Nuclear Systems, Consolidated Natural Gas and Entergy corporations. Her background in public policy administration includes positions as senior executive management officer for the Louisiana Department of Labor and mental health program manager for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
She is an educator, working as a high school teacher in East Baton Rouge, St. Landry and Lincoln parishes. In higher education, she was an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana Technical College where she also served as the contract administrator developing and providing customer service training for Amtrak Corporation employees.
She has served on several boards, community advisory committees, and civic organizations including the Gateway School District Advisory Committee, Professional Women and Community Liaison, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and Orleans Parish School District Advisory Council, New Orleans.
Civic involvement include National Association of University Women’s National Chairperson, Internal Audit Committee, Young Black Leadership Entrepreneurs, National Technical Association and Senior Circle member.