Mr. Lemuel and Mrs. Beatrice Campell Honorary Grand Marshals Downtown streets will be lined with spectators to see the marching bands, walking units, decorated cars and floats that will lead Savannah State University’s annual Homecoming parade on Oct. 31, beginning at 9 a.m. at East Broad and Liberty streets.

Parade entries will depict this year’s celebratory theme: Reaffirming Educational Excellence Through Scholarship, Service & Unity.

The 2009 Parade Grand Marshals are Mr. Luther Conyers Jr. (’48) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Thompson Conyers (‘48) of Bainbridge, Ga. The couple met at what was then Georgia State Industrial College in the fall of 1944 and married after graduation. In 2008, the retired educators demonstrated their passion for their alma mater by cosponsoring the Kirbo-Conyers Endowed Scholarship Fund for Savannah State, which was launched with a $100,000 commitment from the Kirbo Foundation in honor of the Conyers’ 60th class reunion celebration.

Mr. and Mrs. Luther Thompson Parade Grand Marshals The Honorary Marshals are Shirley McDuffie (’68), Ed.D., of Athens, Ga., and Lemuel Campbell (’74) and Beatrice Williams Campbell (’67) of Savannah, Ga.

A counselor and teacher at Cedar Shoals High School, McDuffie has held several key leadership roles with the SSU National Alumni Association (NAA). She served as executive vice president for nine years before being elected to the first of two, two-year terms as president in 2005. McDuffie, the president of the Athens-Clarke County alumni chapter, is a life member of the SSUNAA.

A retiree of CSX Transportation Railroad Company, Lemuel was inducted into the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 for his leadership role in youth sports.

A retired educator, Beatrice is an advocate for the homeless and volunteers at the Social Apostolate and Inner City Night Shelter. Both are active in the Savannah Chapter of the SSUNAA.

Dr. Shirley McDuffie Honorary Grand Marshal The parade will travel north on East Broad to Broughton St., west on Broughton to MLK Jr. Blvd., south on MLK to Anderson St., west on Anderson to Ogeechee Rd., where parade units will disband.

The celebration moves to Theodore A. Wright Stadium for the annual Homecoming football game between the Tigers of SSU and Edward Waters College at 2 p.m.

Established in 1890, Savannah State University is on the move to become the best value-added university in the nation.

Approximately 3,800 students are enrolled in 23 undergraduate degree majors and five graduate programs in three colleges: Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration and Sciences and Technology.