In Loving Memory
Rev. Dr. Henry Byrd, Sr.
November 15, 1945 - November 15, 2025
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Steering Committee Member
“A Life of Purpose, A Legacy of Strength, A Heart of Service
Oratorical Scholarship Contest for High School Seniors
Poster Contest for Elementary School Students
• Friday, January 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Seminole State College
100 Weldon Blvd, Building C, Room 110 A&B
Sanford, Florida 32773
39th Memorial Banquet
• Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Sanford Civic Center
401 East Seminole Boulevard, Sanford, Florida 32771
Speaker: Judge Belvin Perry
Chief Judge Retired
Inter-Faith Religious Observance
• Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
813 Pine Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771
Pastor Sammie J. Edwards, Sr.
Speaker: Rev. Devin Heflin
St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida 32771
Parade and Festival in Fort Mellon Park
• Monday, January 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Parade participants - The parade staging will start at 8:00 a.m. Meet at Crooms Academy of Information Technology, 2200 Historic Goldsboro Boulevard, Sanford, Florida 32771
Festival following parade . . . Heritage Park, Sanford, Florida (in front of the Civic Center)
Vendor opportunities, presentations, music and children’s activities.
CITY OF SANFORD
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION STEERING COMMITTEE, INC.
Welcome to the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend celebration. We are excited to have you join us in honoring the legacy of those who have championed civil rights in our community, and passing the torch to our current leaders. This year's theme, "Honoring the Legacy and Inspiring the Future," reflects our commitment to empowering, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of leaders, built upon a foundation of brotherhood, peace, and
love for all mankind.
We extend our sincerest congratulations to this year's award recipients for their notable contributions to our community. Your dedication and service have not gone unnoticed, and we appreciate the positive impact you have made.
We also extend our gratitude to our valued sponsors, partners, and community members for their ongoing support. Your commitment to this celebration is
crucial in helping us achieve our vision for a brighter future.
Special thanks to the Honorable Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. We are honored to have him as our featured speaker for the Commemorative Banquet. We look forward to his presentation and the valuable knowledge that will be shared.
In the spirit of Peace, Unity, and Love, let us continue to work together towards a more inclusive and equitable community.
Sincerely,
A. Philpot
Kenneth Bentley Chairman Co-Chairman
Melvin
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies Let is resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
(2)
Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path thro’ the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
(3)
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931. His father served as senior pastor from 1931 to 1975 and from 1960 until his death Dr. King acted as co-pastor. Dr. King attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residency for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
In 1954, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, Dr. King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, Dr. King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.
In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity and its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, Dr. King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where Dr. King was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Leader of the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination
“What Is In Your Life’s Blueprint?”
Six months before he was assassinated, Dr. King spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26,1967.
I want to ask you a question, and that is, What is in your life’s blueprint?
This is the most important and crucial period of your lives for what you do now and what you decide now at this age may well determine which way your life shall go. And whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint and that blueprint serves as the pattern, as the guide, as the model for those who are to build the building. And a building is not well erected without a good, sound and solid blueprint.
Now each of you is in the process of building the structure of your lives. And the question is whether you have a proper, a solid, and sound blueprint. And I want to suggest some of the things that should be in your life’s blueprint.
Number one in your life’s blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your own worth and your own somebodiness. Don’t allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth and always feel that your life has ultimate significance. Now that means you should not be ashamed of your color. I know there are some Negroes who are ashamed of themselves, but don’t be ashamed of your color. Don’t be ashamed of your biological features. Somehow you must be able to say in your own lives and really believe it. ‘I am black but beautiful,’ and believe it in your heart. And therefore, you need not be lured into purchasing cosmetics advertised to make you lighter. Neither do you need to process your hair to make it appear straight. I have good hair, and it is as good as anybody else’s hair in the world, and we have got to believe that.
“
What Is In Your Life’s Blueprint?” (continued)
“Now in your life’s blueprint, be sure that you have that principle of somebodiness.
Secondly, in your life’s blueprint you must have as a basic principle the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor. You’re going to be deciding as the days, and the years unfold what you will do in life – what your life’s work will be. And once you discover what it will be, set out to do it and to do it well. And I say to you, my young friends, that doors are opening to each of you – doors of opportunity are opening to each of you that were not open to your mothers and to your fathers –and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to enter these doors as they open.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, said in a lecture back in 1871, that “if a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door.” That hadn’t always been true – but it will become increasingly true.
City of Sanford
Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Steering Committee
History
Four days after Dr. King was assassinated, Congressman John Conyers introduced the first legislation providing for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. On November 3, 1983, President Reagan signs a bill establishing the 3rd Monday of every January as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday beginning in 1986.
In 1985, the late Governor Lawton Chiles by Executive Order formed the original Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission for the State of Florida. On January 20, 1992, he reinstated the Commission and gave it a two-fold mission to plan a statewide celebration and to develop a program that promoted Dr. King's philosophy of non-violence for social change.
Since 1986, a group of concerned citizens of the City of Sanford and the mayor, known as the Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. Steering Committee, has worked diligently in planning and hosting events commemorating the contributions of the slain Civil Rights Leader made to the world. Activities planned for the commemorative celebration included an oratorical poster/essay contest, a golf tournament, a parade/rally and an Inter-Faith Worship Service.
The City of Sanford was selected in 1993 for the Commemorative Statewide Celebration. The Chairman of the 1993 Commemorative Celebration was Dorothea Fogle; Co-Chairman was Kathryn Alexander; Mayor was Bettye D. Smith; Chairperson of the State of Florida Commemorative Commission was Dr. James Eaton; Special Assistant to the Governor was Nina Martinez.
The City of Sanford graciously welcomed citizens from all around the state to the celebration and truly lived up to the motto of being the "Friendly City."
On Saturday, January 17, 2009, the City of Sanford and Seminole County dedicated Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It shall forever represent the power of unity and brotherhood and be known as our “footprints to freedom” and the “gateway to unlimited possibilities.”
This year marks the 39th year of Annual Commemorative Celebrations that will again highlight the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The citizens will “Remember! Celebrate! Act! … A Day On, Not A Day Off.” This theme as put forth by the King Center “reiterates the importance of remembering Dr. King’s work and legacy, celebrating his birthday as a national holiday and acting on his teaching and principles of non-violence and human rights. It also serves as a reminder that this holiday is a day on for community service initiatives and programs promoting inter-racial cooperation, not just a day off from work or school.” “Honoring the Legacy, Inspiring the Future”
2026 Brotherhood Award
Ms. Serita Beamon
Serita D. Beamon was appointed Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) on March 1, 2021. As a result, she historically became the 1st woman Superintendent, 1st African American Superintendent, and 11th Superintendent overall for the district. Mrs. Beamon is a local native of Seminole County, having attended SCPS elementary and middle schools. She graduated from Lake Mary High School. After high school, Ms. Beamon attended Stetson University and earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science. Mrs. Beamon received her Juris Doctorate, with honors, from Florida State College of Law, where she was awarded the Virgil Hawkins Fellowship of academic achievement.
After serving as an attorney in Georgia, Mrs. Beamon practiced law in Florida, and in 2004, she joined The Legal Services Department for SCPS. From 2004-2021, her practice was focused exclusively in the area of education law. In 2011, she was in the first class of Florida attorneys to be recognized as board-certified education law specialists by the Florida Bar.
As in-house counsel for SCPS and the School Board, she served on Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin's leadership team as a Cabinet Member. There, she assisted and provided guidance to the Superintendent, School Board, and Administrators on the day-to-day activities of both the Instructional and Business operations of the district.
Superintendent Beamon stands as a beacon of visionary leadership, resilience, and unwavering dedication to student success. Her stewardship of Seminole County Public Schools has not only sustained the district’s legacy of excellence but propelled it to new heights earning statewide recognitions, driving academic innovation, and fostering a culture of ensuring ALL students have an opportunity for success. Her 2025-26 theme, Deeping Connections, has generated stronger relationships among students, staff, families and our community, and a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement.
Under her leadership, SCPS maintained its Florida Department of Education A-rating and Academically HighPerforming School District status. The district was named the #1 STEM district in Florida by FSU Professor Dr. Paul Cottle and earned its first-ever #1 Niche rating, reflecting excellence in academics, safety, diversity, and teacher quality.
As evidenced by the most recent state assessment data, Spring 2025, SCPS continues to be ranked first among Central Florida school districts, 2nd among the 14 largest districts, and moved from 12th to 10th overall in the state when compared to all 67 districts. For this same time period, 86% of SCPS schools received an A or B grade, SCPS’ most current graduation rate is anticipated to be 94% and the class of 2025 were awarded over $102 million dollars in scholarships.
Mrs. Beamon and her husband Demetry have two sons who attend SCPS schools.
2026 Humanitarian Award Unity Youth Association (UYA)
Britt Henderson and Kerry Wiggins Sr. are the COO and CEO of Unity Youth Association (UYA), bringing over 30 years of combined experience in mentorship and youth development. Britt Henderson also serves with The City of Sanford in Parks and Recreation, further strengthening his commitment to youth programming and community engagement, while Kerry Wiggins Sr. serves as a City Commissioner, providing civic leadership and advocacy for the community they serve.
After graduating from Savannah State University, they returned to their hometown of Sanford, FL, driven by a strong desire to give back. Both had the opportunity to coach football at their high school alma mater, Seminole High School, where they coached players who are former or current NFL athletes. They both coached and played an instrumental role in historic achievements in 2008, guiding Seminole High School’s football team to become the first in the school’s history to win a state championship. Their coaching extended beyond the field, empowering youth academically and instilling discipline, leadership, and accountability in the classroom as well.
In 2006, they partnered with Clifford Martin to establish Unity Youth Association (UYA). Angela Wiggins joined the organization in 2008. What began as a football and cheer camp evolved into a broader mission to inspire, educate, and support young people throughout the community. Today, UYA serves hundreds of youth and continues to make a lasting positive impact.
UYA is dedicated to inspiring and enabling youth to realize their full potential while uplifting the community it serves. The organization provides opportunities for youth and adults alike to believe in themselves through a variety of programs and events, including mentoring, sports fundamentals, camps, and positive community activities. UYA also facilitates one-on-one interactions with professional and collegiate athletes from both past and present.
While the primary focus is on developing youth from underprivileged and less fortunate backgrounds, UYA’s arms remain open to any youth or young adult seeking a healthier, more prosperous, and productive life. The organization encourages participants to become responsible citizens and maintains strong partnerships with community stakeholders to maximize its impact.
UYA is committed to teaching educational strategies and life skills, fostering teamwork, and creating a fun, supportive environment where youth and the community can work together in unity.
In their free time, Britt and Kerry enjoy spending time with family, watching sports, and spoiling their grandchildren. When not engaged in family activities, they remain actively involved in supporting their community and its youth.
2026 Community Service
Sanford and Orlando
Sanford and Orlando Entertainment, Inc. (SAO, Ent.) was established in 2020 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community connections throughout Central Florida. Founded on the principles of unity, inclusion, and collaboration, SAO, Ent. serves as a cultural and civic bridge, bringing people together through thoughtfully designed programming and community centered experiences.
SAO, Ent’s mission is to promote unity and inclusion by curating diverse, inclusive programming, organizing community festivals, and hosting events that foster meaningful partnerships and collaborations across the region. Through culture, education, and civic engagement, the organization creates welcoming spaces that celebrate diversity while fostering shared purpose and collective impact.
The organization’s signature initiatives include Iron Sharpens Iron, a men’s mental health program designed to provide support, dialogue, and empowerment through peer connection and personal development, and The Scholar Society, an educational scholarship program that supports minority high school graduates and currently matriculating college students as they pursue academic excellence and longterm success.
Through its festivals, programs, and partnerships, Sanford and Orlando Entertainment, Inc. remain committed to uplifting communities, amplifying voices, and building sustainable pathways for growth, wellness, and opportunity throughout Central Florida.
, Fred Mayer (Honorary Board Member); Myriel Reid (Founder & President); Sherry Washington, MBA (Co-Founder, Vice President & Treasurer); Padricka Morris (Secretary); Portia Washington (Member At-Large); Albert Armstrong (At-Large Director); Chauncey Moye (Honorary Board Member). Not pictured: Ashton Beauchesne (At-Large Director).
Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. Chief Judge Retired
Belvin Perry, Jr. was born on October 11, 1949, to Belvin Perry, Sr. and Jessie M. Perry of Orlando, Florida. He graduated from Jones High School in Orlando where he was active in the Chess Club and the school’s music program as a member of the marching and concert bands. Raised to value public service, his mother worked as a public-school teacher and his father served in law enforcement as one of the first two African American police officers to be hired by the Orlando Police Department. Belvin Perry, Jr., is married to his wife, LaDrean, and they have two adult children, two grandsons and one great granddaughter.
Belvin Perry, Jr., attended Tuskegee University where he received a Bachelor of Science in History in 1972 and a Master of Education in Student Personnel Services in 1974. He went on to study law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor in 1977. He began his legal career with the Office of the State Attorney serving as a Trial Attorney in 1977. He quickly rose through the ranks with the State Attorney’s Office, concluding his service with the prosecutor’s office as Chief Assistant State Attorney in 1989. In January of that same year, Belvin Perry, Jr., became the first African American to be elected to the circuit bench of the Ninth Circuit without first being appointed. Since taking the bench, he has served as Administrative Judge in Osceola County and served nine terms as Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, before retiring on August 31, 2014. Upon retirement in 2014, he served as personal injury attorney with Morgan and Morgan, P. A. until he retired May 10, 2024.
In his professional activities Chief Judge Perry served as President of the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts, 2010 -2011 and as Chair of the Florida Innocence Commission. He also serves on the Trial Court Budget Commission where he previously served as Chair for four years. He has served on the Supreme Court Criminal Court Steering Committee; Supreme Court Local Rule Advisory Committee; Florida Supreme Court Commission on Fairness – Guardianship Subcommittee; Supreme Court Committee on Post-Conviction Relief in Capital Cases; Florida Court Education Council; Orange County Jail Oversight Committee; as Chair of the Criminal Justice – Public Safety Coordinating Council; as Chair of the Statewide Revision 7 Communications Advisory Group; and as the first African-American Chair of the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, and the Orange County Bar Association. He is also involved with 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando, Inc.,
Currently, Chief Judge (Ret.) Belvin Perry, Jr. serves on the Board of Trustees of Florida A and M University; Director Florida A & M University Foundation; Board of Directors of The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation; Board of Directors of Belvin Perry, Jr., Central Receiving Center; and a former Chair of Board of Trustees for Bethune Cookman University.
In 2001, Chief Judge Perry was recognized by Orlando Magazine as one of the 20 most powerful people in Orlando. Again, in 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 he was recognized as one of the 50 most powerful people in Orlando. In 2011, he was recognized by Ebony Magazine as one of their Power 100. In 2011, 2012, and 2013 he was recognized by Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell as one of the 25 most powerful people in Central Florida.
His dedication and work on the bench also earned him the 2009 FLABOTA Jurist of the Year presented by the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates, 2009 Trial Judge of the Year presented by the Central Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the 2005 Jurist of the Year Award presented by the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida. Other awards and honors include; 2013 Central Florida Urban League Bob Billingsley Legacy Award; 2012 James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award by the Orange County Bar; 2012 Judge William M. Hoeveler Judicial Award for Professionalism by the Florida Bar; 2005 Golden Bell Award presented by the Mental Health Association of Central Florida; Drum Major Award presented by the Dr. I.S. Hankins/F.A.Johnson Education Foundation, Inc., Founders Award presented by Florida Partners in Crisis; Friend of Law Related Education Award presented by the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. and a 2003 Appreciation Award from presented by the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association for meritorious service and dedication to the legal community.
Annual Spirit of Excellence Honoree
Mr. William Tillman
“I am a man worthy of dignity, justice, and respect”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Distinguished Service Award
Alvarise James, Sr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Mistress of Ceremonies
Mrs. Lorie Coachman
Associate Vice President, Admissions and Enrollment Services
Seminole State College of Florida
Introduction of Speaker Mr. Melvin Philpot
Dr. MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee Chairman
Speaker
Special Recognition Presentations
Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. Retired Chief Judge
Mr. Melvin Philpot, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Chairman
Mr. Kenneth Bentley, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Co-chairman
2026 Community Service Award
2026 Humanitarian Award
2026 Brotherhood Award
Distinguished Service Awards
Mr. Melvin Philpot, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee Chairman
Observations / Closing Prayer ………………………………………………………….....................…………. Mr. Melvin Philpot
Dr. MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee Chairman
Closing Song
“Let There Be Peace on Earth” (Song printed in your program) “Let There Be Peace On Earth”
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as Our Father, brothers all are we, Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony. Let Peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow, To take each moment and live each moment in peace, eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Ms. Rose King
The rank of Marshal is traditionally bestowed on a person who shows exceptional leadership qualities and deserves a place of honor.
In parade organizing, a Grand Marshal is named to take the lead in the processional and in hosting festivities. The ceremonial titleholder is often renowned as a community leader or cultural hero.
Grand Marshal Trivia
Mr. Norton Bonaparte Sanford City Manager
THE 39TH ANNUAL
The City of Sanford is proud to be a sponsor.
Art Woodruff
Mayor
Sheena Britton Commissioner, District One
Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr. Commissioner, District Two
Patrick Austin Commissioner, District Three
Claudia Thomas Commissioner, District Four
Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr. City Manager
Craig M. Radzak Deputy
City Manager
HONORING & CELEBRATING
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
39th Commemorative Celebration
Melvin Philpot
“Remember! Celebrate! Act!”
39th
...committed to helping our community soar.
“And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tell him it is right”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Congratulations Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Steering Committee on your
39th Annual Commemorative Banquet
th
Recognizes that legacies are left to those who continue the dream. In this case, it is a full well-rounded education.
Dr. MLK, Jr. Steering Committee, Inc.
On their 39th Annual Commemorative Banquet
Owners: Kenneth and Dr. Barbara Bentley
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Clarity builds trust. Your website should do both.
Tap or scan the QR code, or visit: carnellcreative.com to schedule a website check-in or consultation.
“We must accept Finite disappointment, But never lose Infinite hope”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Life Remembered
Rev. Dr. Henry Byrd
We honor the memory and Legacy of our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Henry Byrd for his commitment to God, Family and Service to his beloved community.
Byrd Memorial Church of Midway, Inc.
2140 Sipes Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32771
Elder Dr. Cynthia Butler, Pastor
Congratulations
39th Annual
Commemorative Celebration
Elder Quintin Faison, Pastor
Rescue Church of God
1700 Historic Goldsboro Blvd. Sanford, FL 32771
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Salutes
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration Steering Committee, Inc.
39th Annual Celebration
“Honoring The Legacy, Inspiring The Future ”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matters”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Pastor Otis C. Raines Senior
Pastor/Teacher
1701 S. Bell Avenue, Sanford, Florida 21771
Ph: 407-328-0098
Congratulation
Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.
Steering Committee
39thAnnual Commemorative Banquet
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Keeping
New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Sidney Crudup II
612 10th Street • Sanford, FL 32771
“We must learn to live together as BROTHERS or perish together as fools”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
MORNING GLORY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
2600 STATE RD 46 - SANFORD, FL32772
Bishop Jimmie LBlake, Pastor
Our Officers and Members
ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
STEERING COMMITTEE 2026
Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
BUILDING COMMUNITY, UNITINGANATION THE NON-VIOLENT WAY
Congratulations to the Dr. MLK, Jr. Steering Committee on your 39th Annual Commemorative Banquet
Mr. Edward and Dr. Ruth Howell Baxter from Dade City, Virginia “In remembrance of Margol Inabinet, our longtime friend and supporter of the MLK Committee. .. we will miss you.”
UYA is committed to youth and teaching important educational tips and life skills. Most of all, we give you and the community we serve the opportunity to have fun and work together in UNITY
Best Wishes
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Steering Committee, Inc.
39th Annual Banquet Celebration
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: It is the presence of justice”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sanford Porchfest Music Festival will return in February of 2027, 10 years since our first event, ready to once again fill our streets and hearts with music, joy, and togetherness.
Judge Carsandra Buie
Luther King, Jr.
Honorable Donna M. Goerner
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION STEERING COMMITTEE
VETTING COMMITTEE Kenneth Bentley
INTER-FAITH COMMUNITY PRAYER BREAKFAST
SPONSORSHIPS
ORATORICAL & POSTER CONTEST & SCHOLARSHIPS
Faith Freeman
Philpot
Kenneth Bentley
PUBLICITY & MARKETING Kenneth Bentley
MEDIA & WEBSITE
Elder Dr. Cynthia Butler
Joyce Cummings
Joyce Cummings
Ruth Walker
Linda Medlock
Juanita Wynn
Faith Freeman
Carlton Edge
Tammy Daniels Min. Bonita McClendon
Barbara Coleman Foster Willis Burris
MEMBERS
Jamelia Jarrells Linda Medlock Faith Freeman Pastor Leroy McClendon
PROGRAM COMMITTEE Samatria Quinn
CULMINATING BANQUET & DEORATIONS
BROTHERHOOD & SPECIAL AWARDS
TICKET SALES SPECIAL EVENTS
Barbara Coleman Foster
Tammy Daniels
Juanita Wynn Joyce Riggins Baker Elder Dr. Cynthia Butler Joyce Cummings
Ruth Walker Bernadette Gardner
Vandell Hilton Alvarise James, Sr.
Arlene C. Davison *Francine Levy
Rev. Sheryl Moore
Dawn Stallworth
Barbara Coleman Foster Kiya McKinney
Melvin Philpot Kenneth Bentley Linda Medlock
Tammy Daniels Linda Medlock ALL MEMBERS
FINANCE & BUDGET Linda Medlock Kenneth Bentley Samatria Quinn
MLK CHOIR Faith Freeman
INTER-FAITH
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
MLK PARADE
MLK FESTIVAL IN THE PARK
Kenneth Bentley
Carlton Edge Vandell Hilton
Elder Dr. Cynthia Butler
Tammy Daniels
Tammy Daniels
Andrea Hayes
Ruth Walker
Linda Medlock Joyce Cummings
Juanita Wynn *Roosevelt Cummings
Kiya McKinney
Kenneth Bentley Alvarise James, Sr.
Joyce Cummings
*Roosevelt Cummings
Rev. Sheryl Moore
Daryoush Fanaian
Samatria Quinn
Dawn Stallworth
Willis Burris
Harold Jordon
In Loving Memory
Dr. David Closson
MLK Committee Member
Ms. Margol Inabinet
MLK Committee Supporter
MLK Committee Supporter
Ms. Beulah Collins
MLK Committee Supporter
Thank You To Our Sponsors
The Dr. MLK, Jr. Celebration Steering Committee would like to express our sincere appreciation to all our sponsors. Your continuing support is what helps to make all of our programs possible. So to all of you a BIG THANK YOU!
City of Sanford | Seminole Asphalt Paving, Inc. | Melvin Philpot
Duke Energy | Seminole State College PLATINUM
SILVER
Orlando Sanford International Airport | Patricia Sherman
Seminole County Sheriff Department | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
True Health | Sanford Police
Sanford Ace Hardware | Seminole County Health Department UNITY
Seminole State College | Charles Davis | Sanford Porchfest
QCF Ministries, Inc. | Orlando Sanford International Airport
Hickman Enterprises | Father’s Day | Midway Coalition
Duke Energy
Action Church
Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Inc.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” - Martin Luther King, Jr. -