King's dream alive in county: Civic Awareness Club celebrates King's memory, honors citizens

By Philip Holsinger

20 Jan 2004   

More than three hundred local people came together to celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor two respected White County citizens Monday at a special annual gathering of the Kensett Civic Awareness Club at the Searcy Carmichael Center.

In addition, 21 other citizens were recognized for their commitment to church and community.

The club named White County Judge Bob Parish and Pleasant Grove West church pastor Judy Hardin-Collins man and woman of the year for White County.

Parish is a four term judge presiding over White County and the former owner of Parish's Grocery Store of Searcy. According to the award announcement Parish has served the community both as a civic leader and an astute business man. The Parish's ran their store for 17 years, the announcement read.

Following Parish's recognition he was grabbed and hugged around the neck by several appreciative members of the audience.

"Bob Parish has done a lot for our community," Claude Smith, club vice president said. "He is a dedicated man and someone we are proud to honor tonight."

Hardin-Collins is active in the community both as a civic leader and church leader. As recently as this autumn she has been active in establishing Concerned Citizens for a Better Community. When a rash of tragedies struck the Searcy Community last fall Hardin-Collins quickly helped to organize prayer and support for the neighborhoods hit hard.

Neither recipient was aware they were to be honored.

"I was very surprised," Hardin-Collins said after being named. "I had no idea. I feel very honored. And this is only the beginning of a dream to move forward in our community."

"I felt overwhelmed," Parish said of the recognition. "A lot of people here tonight we have known for years. They have been our customers and friends."

Held primarily in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday, the focus of the evening's speakers turned toward a hopeful future for White County and the continuing effort of individuals to realize King's dream of a color blind society.

"We reflect God in our daily living because of how we work together for our community here in Searcy," Mayor Belinda LaForce said to the audience. "Looking around it is obvious to me Searcy is one of the greatest cities on earth, in part because of this.

"This organization is a great organization that can allow us to come together," she said. "Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream and it lives within us."

"Each and everyone of us should be a V.I.P.," Dr. Kenneth Martin said, referencing Dr. King's encouragement for individuals to become V.I.P's. "We should be visionaries, we should have intellect and we should find a person to pattern our lives after."

Martin said he sees the community of White County, all cultures alike, practicing this, and encouraged the young people in the audience in particular to make sure they choose good role models to pattern their lives after.

"When I heard Dr. King speak when I was young I knew he was the man I wanted to model my life after," he said. "Young people today need to find a mentor for themselves like Dr. Martin Luther King."

The key note speaker was Cedric Smith, pastor of Williams Temple Church of God In Christ in Searcy and the President of the Augusta District Evangelistic Department.

Smith spoke on the essence of the message of King, saying King was first of all a man of God and second of all a civil rights leader. Smith's message compared the life of the Christian Apostle Saint Paul and Dr. King, making the point that both men suffered for the Gospel and lived for peace. Smith stressed that the struggle for civil rights freedoms had reached a place where it was "each individual's responsibility to pull themselves up by their own boot straps."

"Today each and every one of us has the opportunity to live the American dream," Smith said.

Prior to announcing honors for Parish and Hardin-Collins the club recognized 21 local people for their commitment to church and community.

"Each year we recognize a group of people for outstanding work in their churches," Claude Smith said. "We call it an award of excellence."

Those named this year were: Leroy Willis, Betty Peague, Loretta Dupree, Ollie Robinson, Tara Turner, Robert Gerette, Michelle Byrd, Kyana Smith, Penny Cunningham, Betty Ann Smith, Nick Bradley, Andrea Leary, Chamelia Branch, Racheal Branch, Ashanti Baker, Maralyn Brewer, Gertrude Meadowlark, Roger Whitney, Jeanette Baker, Jack Foster and Lucille Pettus.

Special music was provided by the White County Federated Choir. Army National Guard sponsored a color guard. Others participating in the event were as follows: Brent Turner, Reverend William Gant, Reverend James Hart, Mrs. Estella Smith, Teresa Smith, Elmer Chatman (club President), Mark Baker, Ricky Chatman and Ben Brewer.

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