Evelyn Gentry-Howie entertained the crowd with a song at a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History’s annex building Saturday night.
The spiritual program of healing focused on the sacrifices, love, learning, service, perseverance, and hope of the African-American community of Surry County.
The program contained many musical presentations including the singing of “I Believe I Can Fly” led by Evelyn Gentry-Howie. Steve Lindsley, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, sang “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” by U2. “Amazing Grace” was led by Jennifer Logan, who was accompanied by Lindsley. “I know my redeemer Lives” was performed by Marie Nicholson, who also performed a dance number with a group of young people. Finally, Nicholson sang, “Still I Rise,” near the closing of the program.
The program was co-directed by sisters Cheryl Yellow Fawn Scott and LaDonna McCarther. The pair created the event in 2005 as a ceremony to recognize people continuing the dream of Martin Luther King.
“A lot of people know the story of Martin Luther King,” McCarther said. “He had a dream of hope, perseverance, but there were people before, during and after Dr. King who have worked to achieve those in this community.”
Linda Stanfield, the museum’s director, said the program received, “wonderful response and support” from the community, and that it’s important because its message transcends all generations and cultures.
“We all benefit from this program,” she said. “It’s a message, a way of life, a way to embrace life and you can’t go wrong embracing this message.”
Scott said the lives of those who are recognized at the program parallel that of King.
“Surry Countians have made sacrifices. King was real, he faced his own eminent death to help us all have a better life, you can’t help but respect that,” she said.
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