Mayor Earl Johnson recently signed a proclamation in support of National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 7, at noon on the Court Square.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observation held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people to pray for the nation. The observance was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

For the community and nation, special areas of prayer will be government, military, first responders, judiciary, education, businesses/media, churches and families.

Those on hand for the signing included (from left) Sheriff Blake Turman, judiciary and law enforcement; Charles Hunter, families; Zondra Jernigan; Lori Couturie’; Steve Carroll, pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church; and Darryl Calloway Sr., families. Seated from left are Betty Carroll, Mayor Johnson, and Lena Boswell, government.

Not shown but helping with the initiative are Steve Bailey, military; Dr. Steven Murrell, first responders; Melissa Nall, education; Ricky Hatcher, churches; and Brother Billy Boles, business/media.