Churchgoers and Oxford community members gathered at Second Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 17 for a candlelight vigil and Black history program. The celebration honored civil rights forerunners Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rep. John Lewis, James Meredith and others.
The University of Mississippi Center for Community Engagement hosted the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Saturday as well. University students and faculty joined community members to volunteer and take part in local Black history events. The day began with service projects at the Jackson Avenue Center, followed by a quilt show and multimedia art exhibit at the Burns-Belfry Museum. Second Missionary Baptist’s vigil and Black history program concluded the day’s events.
Cathy Marshall-Smith, former manager of administrative affairs for Ole Miss Athletics, attended the ceremony on Saturday night. She and her husband Jerome Smith, both alumni of UM and longtime Oxford residents, are members of Second Missionary Baptist. The Smiths have helped organize the candlelight ceremony and subsequent programs since its inception 39 years ago.
“At that time, not a lot of people were recognizing (King’s) birthday, and it was essential to start something here in Oxford,” Marshall-Smith said.
The late LeRoy Wadlington, who pastored the church for 22 years, started the candlelight vigil tradition in King’s honor.
At 15 years old, Wadlington met King, whose impression left a lasting influence on him. Wadlington was motivated to bring King’s spirit to his own congregation.
Second Missionary Baptist is the oldest African American Baptist church in Oxford’s city limits. The church took charge in bringing celebrations of King’s life to the Oxford community. Being that many civil rights activists have attended the church over the years, hosting the annual vigil honors the church’s cultural history.
King’s teachings emphasized equality and inclusion, and Black history events are vital to building community relationships.
“His focus throughout his ministry, writings and teachings was love. In order to love someone, you have to know someone,” Marshall-Smith said.
The community celebration started with a musical performance, featuring Jerome Smith playing the saxophone. Following the number, UM School of Law alumnus Keveon Taylor spoke at the program. The evening ended with a community thanks and a performance of the Black National Anthem.
Taylor’s message moved the small, yet engaged crowd. In his speech, Taylor encouraged audience members to persevere in the face of injustice and adversity still prevalent in the present day. He advocated the importance of King’s teachings and religious obedience to overcoming hardship.
The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated alum is an aspiring young minister and attorney. He preached that, “Faith unlocks what obedience brings to reality.” Taylor’s speech compared the lives of Moses, Meredith and King, citing religious faith as a commonality between the historical figures and their accomplishments.
“In my journey from the sanctuaries of wood floor churches, to the cells of a Birmingham jail, to the bridge in Selma, Ala. and, of course, to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I thought about what others must have felt like mentally, emotionally and most importantly spiritually,” Taylor said. “What courage and endurance it must have taken to look death in the face and decide to march on anyway.”
Marshall-Smith lauded Taylor’s eloquence and commitment to service. She said her favorite part of the ceremony each year is the speakers.
The annual celebration allows Oxford residents to reflect on the lives of civil rights leaders who bridged segregational gaps to facilitate societal unity.
“If Dr. King walked through the church doors, I think he would smile,” Marshall-Smith said.
