Phyllis Worthy recited two powerful poems during her remarks to the community.
Kelly Duncan photos | The Newberry Observer
Members of the community marched from Bethlehem Baptist Church to Miller Chapel AME Church for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. service.
Kelly Duncan photos | The Newberry Observer
Reggie Cannon Sr. served as one of the guest speakers during the service.
Kelly Duncan photos | The Newberry Observer
NEWBERRY — For 25 years, Newberry has held a service honoring the life and legacy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Monday, members of the community – young and young at heart – made the march from Bethlehem Baptist Church to Miller Chapel AME Church to once again recognize the day as a day on, not a day off with messages of hope and joy.
As in years past, a guest speaker is chosen to deliver a message during the service. This year was no different, however, with this being the 25th year of holding the service, things were done a little different. Instead of one guest speaker, two speakers delivered messages to the community – Reggie Cannon Sr. and Phyllis Worthy, two lifelong Newberrians.
“Rosa sat so Martin could run. Martin walked so Barack could run,” Cannon said.
Raised by his grandmother in the Bethlehem Gardens portion of Newberry, Cannon said that if King were alive today, he would have addressed our political spectrum and also would have addressed the pandemic of manufactured firearms.
“If fentanyl is a pandemic, then so are manufactured firearms. Let’s not give up the fight of getting guns off our streets,” he said.
During Cannon’s remarks, he stressed to today’s youth to think about what their blueprint for life looks like. An architect, he said, draws the blueprint.
“You need a proper and solid blueprint,” Cannon said.
In order to do that, one must believe in their own dignity and worth and have a commitment to excellence, always striving to do your best. Setting clear goals and steps while also showing resilience and perseverance – and embracing setbacks as learning opportunities are also essential.
“The doors are always open for you. Study hard and burn the midnight oil. Set out to do life well. Don’t set out to just be good – reach farther,” he said. “You are well equipped for the fight you choose. You are the handicap you choose and you must keep going.”
Worthy kept her remarks brief, but powerful. She read from two different poems, which both highlighted judging someone for the color of their skin and finding the in betweens in life.
“There are people of all different colors and we are all fearfully and wonderfully made,” she said.
Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3122 ext. 1867 or [email protected].