Here are 4 things to know ahead of Friday's annual MLK Committee banquet in Fayetteville

Beth Hutson, The Fayetteville Observer
·3 min read
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The Fayetteville-Cumberland County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee will host its annual banquet Friday evening at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Several hundred people are expected to be in attendance at the banquet, which serves as a fundraiser and awareness event for the committee.

“The dream still lives, and this is going to be a great event,” said Joe McGee, the chairman of the banquet organizing committee.

This year’s banquet will honor Wilson Lacy, past president of the MLK Committee and a Fayetteville community leader. Lacy died in 2022 at the age of 74. Omega Jones will be the mistress of ceremony.

Here’s what else to know about Friday’s banquet and the committee behind it.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Park is located on Blue Street in Fayetteville.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Park is located on Blue Street in Fayetteville.

What is the MLK committee?

The Fayetteville-Cumberland County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee aims to preserve and advance King’s legacy, according to its website. It's the force behind the development of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Blue Street in Fayetteville.

The committee hopes to hold more events this year and help other organizations raise awareness of King’s philosophy, McGee said.

MLK performer

Dr. Stephon Ferguson of Fayetteville will perform one of King’s speeches.

Ferguson, who first performed as King during the dedication of Fayetteville MLK Memorial Park on Aug. 23, 2003, said that to his knowledge, he’s the only person authorized by the King estate to publicly perform King’s speeches. He said Friday’s speech will be geared toward the banquet’s theme of “Bridging That Which Divides Us.”

More:MLK Committee hosts annual banquet to benefit MLK Park memorial

Speakers and entertainment

In addition to Ferguson, the lineup will feature the presentation of the first Rev. Dr. Aaron Johnson Award for community service to Milo Slocumb, president of the MLK Committee, McGee said.

Johnson, who served as the pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church on Murchison Road for 60 years, is a founding member of the MLK Committee and a former member of the Fayetteville City Council.

The keynote speaker will be Bishop Brian R. Thompson Sr., the former pastor of Simon Temple AME Zion Church in Fayetteville who now serves as the bishop of the AME Zion’s Western Episcopal District.

Fayetteville native and national jazz performing artist Reggie Codrington will provide musical entertainment. The soprano saxophone player, who has nine albums of his own, has opened for musicians including Ramsey Lewis, Kevin Toney, Frankie Beverly and Maze and Charlie Wilson, according to his website.

Among the honorees will be The Fayetteville Observer’s Future Black History Makers, a partnership with Cumberland County Schools, that recognizes 28 standout elementary school students. According to McGee, several local businesses were responsible for sponsoring tickets for the students and their parents. They are Venus Vogue Weddings & Formals, the Retired Military Association of NC, Will N Wills Auto, Metcon and the Charleston Group.

Banquet details

The banquet, which starts at 6 p.m. in the Tony Rand Student Center at FTCC, is sold out, but you can watch a livestream of the event on the Observer’s Facebook page, @fayobserver.

News director Beth Hutson can be reached at bhutson@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville, NC Martin Luther King Jr. banquet is Friday