In spite of cold temperatures, Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities continued as planned
Published 5:32 pm Monday, January 20, 2025
The NAACP and the Nehemiah Lodge 138 sponsored a community breakfast on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at the 50 Yard Line Restaurant.
Colquitt County NAACP former president Isabella Brooks works at the organization's food drive at Piggly Wiggly on Saturday.
Marsha Bishop volunteers at the Community Breakfast on Martin Luther King Day. This is her third year as a volunteer at the breakfast.
Students at Stringfellow Elementary School participate in the NAACP's "Read Aloud Day." Each child received a book about Martin Luther King Jr.
Cynthia Ingram was presented with the Community Legend Award at the Women Federated Club's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.
Tevores Sumlin was presented with the Community Service Award at the Women Federated Club's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.
Home Depot had a float in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.
Charlie A. Gray Junior High had a float in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. The float paid tribute to Moultrie native Willie Belle Irvin-Partridge, a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II.
MOULTRIE — In spite of the temperatures that were lower than usual, activities celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day continued on Monday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day kicked off on Monday with a free community breakfast at the 50 Yard Line Restaurant. The breakfast was sponsored by the Colquitt County NAACP and the Nehemiah Lodge 138. Volunteers from the organizations cooked and served breakfast to about 100 people that came.
“It’s cold but we’re still here,” said Dr. Patrick McCray, president of the Colquitt County NAACP.
Felicia Carr, vice president of the NAACP and chairman of the MLK Day celebration, said the breakfast started during the pandemic.
“We just wanted to serve the community,” she said.
At 11 a.m., the Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration at Mother Easter Baptist Church. The theme for the event was “Mountain Top Vision: Keeping the Faith in Challenging Times.”
The Rev. Elizabeth Hill, pastor of Grant Chapel AME Church, was the keynote speaker and the program also included the presentation of two awards. The Community Service Award went to Tevores Sumlin and the Community Legend Award went to Cynthia Ingram.
“This is a day set aside to focus on serving our community and making a positive difference in the lives of those around us,” said Stephanie Moses about the occasion.
Hill quoted an African proverb, “He who inherits a mountain must first climb it.”
Hill spoke of King having been to the “mountain top” and that he had left them work to do but he also told them how it needed to be done.
“Martin Luther King wanted us to be a secure, independent race of people. Martin Luther King wanted us to have equality,” said Hill. “He wanted us to become a brotherhood, not just one race but all races.”
Then, starting at noon, on the courthouse square, the annual celebration, sponsored by the NAACP, was held with music, food and kids’ activities.
Carr said, “We started in ’87, the year after it became a federal holiday. It’s always cold so we know to bundle up and we still do the celebration to honor him.”
“We are busy continuing to realize and exceed the dream of Dr. King,” said McCray.
The Annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade was also held downtown, on the courthouse square, with Carol Simpson, founder and owner of “Eyvone’s Porch Incentive,” as the Grand Marshal. There were 50 entries.
“I think it was a success,” said Stacey Davenport, secretary of the Colquitt County NAACP. “The parade was a culmination of everything, today. A lifting of every voice.”
“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve,” said Carr.
Activities to honor King’s holiday started last Wednesday with a “Read Aloud Day” program, sponsored by the Colquitt County NAACP, at Stringfellow Elementary School. Students participated in a story time and, then, afterwards, students were paired with “Reading Buddies,” who were volunteers from the NAACP. Each child left with a book about King and the day ended with snacks and refreshments.
From the Stringfellow Elementary School Facebook page, “We are beyond grateful to have been chosen to participate in the Annual MLK Read Aloud Day organized by the Colquitt County Branch of the NAACP.”
Events continued through the week with a vision board activity on Thursday and a cooking class that encouraged healthy eating, given by Chef Chaka Fuller-Howard on Friday.
On Saturday, the NAACP in partnership with United Way, held a food drive at Piggly Wiggly to benefit the Colquitt County Food Bank. McCray said that they collected about 691 pounds of food and monetary donations of $357.62.
McCray, said in a video on the NAACP Facebook page, “We do this every year in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s holiday.”
On Sunday, a special worship service was held at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. E. Terrell Carter of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Sylvester as the guest speaker.
