On the 56th anniversary of the death of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., members of the King family will gather to mark the solemn occasion for the first time since the passing of Dexter Scott King, Christine King Farris and Naomi King.
Credit: W.A. Harewood / AP
Credit: W.A. Harewood / AP
Christine King Farris, who had been King’s last living sibling, died June 29, 2023 at the age of 95.
The Kings’ youngest son, Dexter Scott King died Jan. 22 of prostate cancer, just eight days shy of his 63rd birthday.
Credit: Jason Getz
Credit: Jason Getz
Naomi King, the wife of King’s younger brother A.D., died in March at age 92.
Angela Farris Watkins, the daughter of Christine King Farris, said the family has had to remain strong during what has been an unprecedented year of mourning. She said that her grandfather, the legendary Martin Luther “Daddy” King Sr., often told his family — in the wake of tragedy — to “Thank God for what you have left.”
“And he would say that to himself every time he lost another loved one,” Watkins said. “By that, he meant that we still have loved ones remaining who can provide support and love you. People that you can embrace. So all is not lost.”
King, who won a Nobel Peace Prize and led the March on Washington, was gunned down on April 4, 1968. He was in Memphis advocating for sanitation workers.
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
April 4 has been a symbolically significant day ever since.
At 11:15 a.m. Thursday, the King family, led by Rev. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center, will continue their solemn annual tradition of placing a wreath at the crypt where Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King are interred. Coretta Scott King died in 2006.
Watkins said the King family uses the ceremony to begin introducing new faces and generations of the family.
Credit: Jason Getz
Credit: Jason Getz
“We are preparing the next generation,” Watkins said. “Making sure they understand the importance of these commemorations and ceremonies and take an active part in them. And all of us, despite our losses, are still determined to keep things moving to uphold our family legacy of love, nonviolence and social justice. We are clear on that.”
The King Family Wreath Laying Ceremony and Community Service Project at the King Center is one of several observances of King’s assassination that will take place throughout the week.
Other events, spearheaded by The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, include:
Candlelight Observance and Wreath Laying Ceremony
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC
At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the National Park will hold a candlelight observance and wreath-laying ceremony at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Sanctuary, 407 Auburn Ave. The wreath will be placed in front of the church, and a bell will toll 56 times in honor of King, who was baptized at the church and preached at Ebenezer before his funeral was held there on April 9, 1968.
Reflection Corner
Credit: Jason Getz
Credit: Jason Getz
Through April 9, visitors of the National Historical Park’s Visitor Center at 450 Auburn Avenue will be allowed to “pause and reflect on the profound impact of Dr. King’s legacy.” The “Reflection Corner,” open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will give attendees an invitation to express their thoughts and feelings artistically.
Silent Remembrance Walk
Credit: Noel Davis, AJC staff file
Credit: Noel Davis, AJC staff file
On April 9, the anniversary of King’s funeral, visitors will “step back in time and experience the solemnity of the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Sanctuary.” Attendees will walk silently through the iconic sanctuary, while listening to audio of King’s final sermons. Those sermons will include King’s own eulogy that was played during his funeral.
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