|Community Observance
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the 34th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award ceremony will be held Monday, Jan. 15. The program, presented by East Caney Missonary Baptist Church and the Hopkins County African American Leadership Conference, will begin at 7 p.m. at Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Fuller St. in Sulphur Springs, with Missionary Jackie Wade-Jackson of White Oak Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant serving as mistress of ceremony.
MLK Program
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is designed to celebrate “the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America.' The ceremony will commemorate the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service which empowered Dr. King’s leadership, as well as “the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit,” event organizers noted.
Approximately 70 individuals from the Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County community who have demonstrated compassion, perseverance, courage and leadership by engaging in the difficult work of fostering human dignity and our common humanity through their projects, programs and vision.
Those receiving awards have been selected by the 2024 MLK Nomination Committee, which includes Jossie Jimmerson, Tammy Duffey, Vanessa Abron, Patricia Cooper, Janice Henley, Marcie Porter, Uyvonne Thornton, Jackie Wade Jackson, Angela Mosley, Lou Hall, Demitra Robinson, Mynder Kelly, BJ Teer, Ricky Godbolt, Lewis Hawkins, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Harold B. Nash Sr., Ann Spivey, Latosha Ivery, Zhakari Jackson, and East Caney Missionary Baptist Church Pastor LaVelle Hendricks.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom will open the program with scripture and prayer.
Jatavion Hall is slated to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Sister Della Cleveland will sing “God Bless America.”
WC Pryor, the recognized “Mayor of Birch Creek” who also represents Hopkins County African American Leadership Contact is scheduled to provide a welcome.
The program will include at least two musical selections, Reflection on 'The Dream' and feature a Ministry of Dance. Sister Patricia Cooper is slated to introduce the featured speaker, Dallas Black Dance Theatre Executive Director Zenetta Drew.
Rev. Chris Spivey and Dr. Harold Nash, Morning Chapel Baptist Church, will present closing remarks, and the program is to close to “If I Had a Hammer.”
Members of White Oak Baptist Church and East Caney MBC will be special guests for the celebration.
All are invited to this special 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Awards program to help celebrate those in the community who embody the spirit and values for which Dr. King is celebrated.
Event organizers offer special thanks to Zenetta Drew, Patricia Cooper, Tiffany Spigner, Dr. HB Nash, Alliance Bank, WC Pryor and the East Caney Missionary Baptist Church family for all of their work to make the program a success and throughout the year.