Stanley Cofer spoke during Praise Fest 2017 in downtown Tyler. Cofer has organized an anti-abortion panel discussion and prayer conference scheduled for Friday. (File/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Pastor Stanley Cofer and Empowerment Ministries Inc. will present an anti-abortion panel discussion and prayer conference from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Reformation House of Prayer, 1318 Clinic Drive.

Speakers will be BJ Garrett of CARE Ministries, Bev Kline of Living Alternatives and Le’Yandria Ratomski, according to a news release.

Cofer said he is excited to bring this event to Tyler for the first time, leading up to National Sanctity of Life Sunday, which is observed every third Sunday in January. The observance was begun by President Ronald Reagan as an effort to oppose abortion.

There is no cost to attend this event. Reserved tickets to the event can be found at Eventbright.com.

Also at the event, the Texas Minority Coalition will pay tribute to Dr. Mildred Jefferson, who was the first black woman to graduate from Harvard University. She was born and raised in East Texas and was a graduate of Texas College in Tyler. She also served as president of the National Right to Life Committee.

Cofer, president of Empowerment Ministries Inc. and the Texas Minority Coalition, announced that a portrait of Jefferson will be donated to the Texas African American Museum in Tyler.