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A large crowd gathered at the Alpha Insurance building in LaFayette to celebrate the life and legacy of a legendary figure in the history of the American South on January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. 

The MLK Day celebration, hosted by the LaFayette Main Street organization, was attended by many local officials and community leaders including Mayor Kenneth Vines, Council member Toney Thomas, Powell Chapel United Methodist Pastor Kelsey Barnes and many more. 

The event was catered by local caterer Krave Korner and decorated by Anointed Designs. 

During the service, several community members honored MLK with their voices, such as Main Street member Sandra Holloway and singer Ebony Askew. 

In honor of the late Baptist minister and activist, Rev. Gary Dixon of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church gave a sermon on faith and its power over the country’s future. 

Main Street committee member Pamela Holloway introduced Dixon during the event.

An honor graduate from Lafayette High School, Dixon went on to attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

For 32 years, he worked as a district manager with the Social Security Administration before retiring 11 years ago. 

Dixon is a moderator of 36 churches of the Bowen East District Baptist Center. He served on the executive committee for the state of Alabama Baptist Convention of Churches and he is currently appointed to the Congress of Christian Education team for Alabama Missionary Baptist Association.

All the while, Dixon has also served as the pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in LaFayette, Holloway said, “where we love him dearly and we appreciate his devotion and his love of God and His love of God’s people.”

In a sermon worthy of MLK’s memory, Dixon reminded those in attendance that unity can only be achieved with the help of God. 

“We are much stronger together than we can be apart,” Dixon said. 

“It’s not over until God says it’s over,” he added.

 LaFayette Main Street Director DeAnna Hand thanked all the contributors, board members and volunteers for their help with the event. 

“We just want to say that here in LaFayette, we must continue the imperative work of Dr. King to create a unified community where all are seen and heard for their unique talents,” Hand said. “We want this to be a community where everyone is supported to succeed and know that they belong. LaFayette Main Street has an enduring commitment to create an environment where everyone is welcomed.”

Vines also spoke about the impact of LaFayette Main Street on the community and the importance of Monday’s event. 

“So every year for the last 20 years, I’ve been to some type of event on this special day, and God has allowed me to come here to welcome you all my citizens here in Lafayette, and I love each and every one of you. I tell everybody, every time when I go out, I represent the city of Lafayette, because I have to represent the city of Lafayette with dignity, and I represent the city of Lafayette with pride because this is my hometown.”

Thomas added, “We’ve got to remember the occasion, why we’re here. We got to keep the movement going. Dr Martin Luther King was a great guy. He set an example for us, and an example we should all follow. We should love and treat each other right.”