A gospel fest will kick-off a month-long celebration to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Committee of Laurel/Jones County will hold a “Gospel Fest Fundraising Concert” Sunday at 3 p.m. at Second Allen A.M.E. Church in Laurel. All proceeds will go toward the MLK parade scheduled for noon on Jan. 16 in downtown Laurel. Pinky Jones will be the grand marshall.
“The concert is the first of a month of events we have planned to honor Dr. King,” said Thaddeus Edmonson, parade committee president. “Daphne Drummond-Seals will serve as our emcee.”
Prior to the start of the concert, a number of elected and appointed officials will be on hand to kick-off the annual Dr, Martin Luther King celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We have asked county officials to declare the month of January a month of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Edmonson. “Right after the ribbon cutting, we will be ready for the concert.”
Edmonson said a number of out-of-town guests are expected. Some are coming from as far as Little Rock, Ark.
“We’ll also have guests from churches in Jasper, Clarke and surrounding counties,” said Edmonson. “Our special guest is Laurel resident Genita Pugh.”
Founder and pastor of Original Worship Ministry, Pugh “loves God and ministering to God’s people.” A recording artist, her first single, “You Made It Possible,” can be seen Sundays on BET’s Video Gospel.
When asked what’s the most important thing she wants people to know about her, Pugh states, “I truly love all people and want to be more like my Father in heaven spreading his love everywhere I go.”
Drummond-Seals said the concert is the place to be for those who enjoy great gospel music. In addition to singing and music, the concert will feature praise dancers.
“We want everyone to come out and help us lift up the name of the Lord through praise, song and dance,” she said. “We plan to have a great time in the Lord.”
Edmonson said the theme of this year’s celebration is “Living the Dream for One America.” People from various races and diverse backgrounds are expected to attend.
He noted that area students who have been nominated for the “Keeper of the Dream” award and winners will be recognized and honored during the concert. The committee will also honor “Male Athlete of the Year” as well as “Female Athlete of the Year.”
The next event scheduled is the “Keeper of the Dream” banquet slated for 7 p.m. on Jan. 9. Philadelphia Mayor James Young is the speaker for the banquet, which will be held at the Sanderson Farms facility on Flynt Road.
Young is the first black mayor for the small East-Central Mississippi town that gained national attention in 1964 as the site of the infamous murders of three civil rights activists — an African-American man from Mississippi and two white New York men — who were working to register African-American voters in the state. All three men were in their 20s when they were murdered.
Tickets for the banquet are $20 and are available at Southern Delight (Elvira’s Place) in Soso, (601) 433-2221; Liberty National Life Insurance Co. in Laurel, (601) 649-7373; 102.5 FM in Hattiesburg (Denise Brooks), (601) 582-1025; Colatta Pruitt (601) 326-2025; Jacqueline Evans, (601) 498-2365; the Rev. Arthur Logan, (601) 498-4303, and Daphne Drummond Seals, (601) 319-6762.
Local News
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Gospel fest Sunday kicks off MLK celebration
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