CCA holds MLK prayer breakfast
Published 1:36 pm Saturday, January 14, 2012
As Martin Luther King Day approaches Monday, people all over the Atmore community are honoring the memory of the late civil rights leader in a variety of ways.
Saturday morning city officials, local pastors and other community leaders joined the Concerned Citizens of Atmore at the Freemanville Head Start center as they kicked off their 20th year of service with a special prayer breakfast celebrating the up coming holiday.
Concerned Citizens of Atmore President Rev. Dr. Coleman M. Wallace said community service is an important part of continuing King’s legacy.
“I’m honored to be able to serve, and serve I will do,” Wallace said.
Master of Ceremonies, Bro. Wayne Gray Sr., echoed Wallace’s sentiment.
“One of the ways we try to honor Dr. King is through service to our community,” Gray said.
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell also spoke briefly Saturday morning, touching on the impact of King’s work and the importance of not taking for granted the way of life he helped made possible.
“We each have goals in life that we look forward to,” Shell said. “All you’ve got to do is look around you and you can find lots of things to be thankful for.”
Musical selections and a crowing ceremony for this year’s Martin Luther King Day Queen were also a part of this year’s prayer breakfast. St. Georges’ Frances Ingram and Dr. Bernard and Felicia Bishop offered musical performances for the crowd and the four candidates for this year’s queen were introduced.
Khadijah McCants, Kearia Somone Mason, Terriana McNeil and Dominae DuWhite vied for this year’s crown by raising funds for the Concerned Citizens of Atmore’s use in their efforts in the Atmore community.
McNeil finished in first place, earning the crown, with a total of $496.25. McCants was runner up with $407.67. DuWhite finished third with $330 while Mason finished with $270 for a combined total of $1,503.95.
A group of local pastors concluded Saturday’s breakfast with the presentation of the Unity Prayers, including prayers for love, peace, unity, justice, hope and equality, all qualities important in the work of King.
As Monday’s holiday nears there will be more opportunities for local residents to join in the tributes to King’s life. A special ceremony will be held at New Order Missionary Baptist Church Sunday at 3 p.m. The festivities will wrap up Monday at 10 a.m. with the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade. Line up will begin at 9 a.m. at Houston Avery Park and the parade’s route will end at Escambia County High School.