Myrlie Evers-Williams of Mississippi, the widow of slain Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers, has been invited to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama's second inauguration.

Evers-Williams will deliver the invocation at the Jan. 21 inauguration ceremony at The Capitol.

Jan. 21 is also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Evers-Williams is a distinguished scholar at Alcorn State and a former chairwoman for the NAACP.

In a statement President Obama said she represents the ideals of justice, equality and opportunity that he pursues.