On the Sunday after Mardi Gras 1971, a group of concerned individuals met to discuss plans for a more organized group to gather each Mardi Gras Sunday for a procession to the Old Church Street Graveyard where services are held at the gravesite of Joe Cain. At this first meeting in February 1971 officer's were chosen: Al Owen as President or Chairman, Julian Lee Rayford, the event's founder in 1967
, as Vice Chairman and Wayne Dean as Corresponding Secretary. In 2014 the Joe Cain Marching Society filed paperwork in order to incorporate and gain tax exempt status. This became necessary after so many years because of a movement to put restrictions on the marchers by the Joe Cain Parading Society which represents the float riders. In an effort to save the traditions of the past 47 processions the Joe Cain Marching Society's purpose is to provide an open atmosphere for citizens of the city and visitors alike, whether individuals, families or groups, to participate freely in the annual Joe Cain Procession “peoples’ procession” with no expectation of having to pay a fee or to join a society and to do so in accordance with the purposes established in 1868 by Joe Cain and as reaffirmed by Julian Lee Rayford in 1967 when he began the “holiday for all the people.
