The life of a local pioneer in the black community will be celebrated today as friends and family gather to pay respects.

Earlena Morris created the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce with the help of her husband in 2002 and helped them win the Chamber of the Year award in 2008.

Morris also founded her own concierge business, Time Ave, where she helped people attack their busy to-do lists around Bakersfield. Former 23ABC reporter Karl Mandik did a story on her back in 2008.

Services for Morris will begin at 10 a.m. at the Saint Peter Restoration Community Christian Ministries.