Burke organizations come together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King


The Rev. Brendolyn Boseman

The Rev. Brendolyn Boseman

On Saturday, January 11, 2020, the Burke County Improvement Association and the Burke County Black Churches Benevolent Association celebrated their second annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Banquet. The event was held at the Burke County Office Park Auditorium with the theme, “A Legacy of Service.” The organizations came together to not only celebrate the life and legacy of King but to encourage the community to carry out his charge to serve with a “heart full of grace” and “soul generated by love.”

Guests enjoyed an evening of historical reflections and socializing with musical performances by the Burke County High School Jazz Combo. The guest speaker for the evening, The Rev. Brendolyn Lovette Jenkins Boseman of Hudson Memorial CME Church in Augusta, brought forth a message of hope and inspiration to keep King’s dream alive. She shared her passion for activism and advocacy through her work with criminal justice, environmental justice, social justice and youth leadership development.

Annie Laura Stephens

Annie Laura Stephens

As a part of the celebration, the organizations made a special presentation to recognize two pillars of the community who are also leading lives of service. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award was presented to Annie Laura Howard Stephens and the Rev. Charles Utley, who have dedicated their talents and efforts to advocate for environmental justice.

Members of the banquet’s planning committee include the Rev. J.J. Smith, Judge Emmanuel Larkin Jr., Jackie Payton, Loretta Brinson, Mary Bennett, Ben Dorsett, Ella Jordan and Luberda Jenkins. Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Nu Upsilon Omega Chapter and the Burke County High School Beta Club served as hosts and servers for the event.

The Rev. Charles Utley

The Rev. Charles Utley

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