By Taliyah Chalmers
The 2020 St. Mark Baptist Church Dr. MLK Jr. Community Celebrations had the theme of Living the Dream.
Dr. Kevin B. Taylor was the guest speaker of the event held Jan. 20 at the Drummonds church located at 3220 Wilkinsville Road. Taylor and members of his congregation were visiting from Springdale Baptist Church.
St. Mark Pastor E. Allen Redwell Jr. served as official host for the festivities honor the memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Dr. King holiday is observed in the United States the third Monday of January each year.
St. Mark has brought the community together in honor of MLK for several years. The 2020 event opened with a song of praise from the United Voices Choir. Invocation was delivered by St. Mark Associate Minister Andrew Fisher. Then an emotional version of Dr. King’s speech was given by Nathan Allen. The young child fought back tears trying to delivering the excerpts. Overwhelmed by emotions and the moment, Allen was taken into the arms of his dad unable to complete it.
Pastor Allen took to the microphone to ensure the younger Allen he did a good job and he is an example of what Dr. King fought for back during the Civil Rights Movement.
After a skit performed by Bobby Fields Jr. and Shemar Johnson, it was time for the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards. The two honorees were Dr. Jayson Cannon and Patrict “Trey” Carter III.
Carter, a native Memphian, is a second generation entrepreneur. Dr. Cannon also born in Memphis moved to Tipton County at a young age. He is the owner of Cannon Chiropractic.
Taylor concluded the event with his sermon reminding the audience to keep the dream alive with service for the less fortunate.
