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AHOSKIE – Even in despair, there’s always hope for a better tomorrow.

That was the main message of Monday’s salute to the late civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The morning began with a march from the Town of Ahoskie Fire Station to New Ahoskie Missionary Baptist Church where a program filled with “hope” provided warmth on a sunny but cold day.

Fittingly, the march was along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Rev. Jeffrey Wilson of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church shared the main message of the morning: Marching on with hope. He cited scripture from Romans, Chapter 5, which in part said “suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.

“We’re talking about marching on with hope,” Rev. Wilson said at the outdoor ceremony, held on the front steps of New Ahoskie Missionary Baptist Church. “We stand in the shadow of a giant, a man who lived his life driven by the kind of hope that comes from faith in God.”

He emphasized that Dr. King wasn’t just marching for civil rights.

“He was marching in faith, trusting that God’s promises would be fulfilled, even when the road was hard and the struggles seemed endless,” Rev. Wilson proclaimed. “Dr. King faced tremendous opposition, but he marched on, not in despair, but in hope.

“The Bible teaches us that hope does not disappoint,” Rev. Wilson added. “It was that unshakable hope that carried Dr. King through the trials of his life. Every march, every speech, every sermon was a declaration of that hope where every one of God’s creatures are treated with the same love, respect and fairness.”

Rev. Wilson noted that Dr. King marched for God’s vision of justice, one where little white children and little black children could sit together at the same table.

“We too can march on with a little bit of hope…the kind of hope that was built on the blood of Jesus. We have hope that we will not be defeated; hope that says we will not turn back. I encourage you all to keep on marching in faith, in hope, and in love. As long as we keep hope alive, everything will be alright,” Rev. Wilson concluded.

Rev. Casey Peele, pastor of Newsome Grove Missionary Baptist Church, presided over the event.

“We’re stronger together than divided,” Rev. Peele observed. “No matter color or race, we are all God’s children. Dr. King talked about the character of a man. I’ve always stood by the statement that a man’s character is consistent.”

Rev. Roy Sharpe, pastor of St. John 2^nd Baptist Missionary Church, read scripture from Levitations. Rev. Mary Drake, pastor of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, offered the opening prayer.

Rev. Keith Urquhart of Faith Hope Deliverance Ministries told the story of Dr. King and his quest for civil rights, using peaceful protests seeking equality in the United States for African-Americans, the economically disadvantaged, and all victims of injustice.

Monday’s event included remarks from other local leaders.

“This is the third year of having this march and it has grown tremendously over that period of time,” said Ahoskie Mayor Weyling White. “Today we celebrate someone who fought for hope; someone who believed in equity, equality, and fairness.”

White added that a lot of the things Dr. King fought for are in question for the future.

“We’re seeing programs at risk such as DEI, Black History being taught in our schools, and so many other things that threaten the democracy of our people,” he said. “We need to keep fighting for what Dr. King believed in. Be brave, be steadfast, support each other, and make sure we do not backtrack to the violent history we’ve had here in America. Let’s continue to fight for justice, equality and believe in the values that Dr. King had in store for us.”

Ahoskie Police Chief Michele Garrett stressed that Dr. King’s birthday should be a time where all are reminded of the influence of one person’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality.

“Sometimes we don’t see when change has occurred,” Garrett noted. “We’ve come a mighty long way here in Ahoskie. I’ve been here 30 years. I can see things are different. God is making change. I thank God for placing the right people in position. They need your support. Come out to the [town] council meetings and say what’s on your mind.

“This just isn’t about us,” Garrett continued. “It’s about our young people. They are our leaders of tomorrow. I say to them to keep persevering. It’s going to take all of us to make Ahoskie and Hertford County a better place. There’s strength in unity.”

Local District Attorney Kim Scott observed that it’s been over 60 years since Dr. King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech.

“Many of the realities spoken on that day have not been realized,” Scott said. “The dream has not been realized. We’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s more work to be done.”

She added that now more than ever in 2025, people need not to sit at home and be keyboard warriors.

“It’s easy to get on social media and say something, but the real change happens with us here in our communities as we get out and share information with people,” Scott said. “The struggle affects everybody, of all races, of all economic classes, the dream needs to be realized. This is our community and we need to be part of the change. The dream needs to live on in each of us,” Scott concluded.

Andre Lassiter, chair of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners, remarked that God has brought us way too far to leave us.

“We have hope that Hertford County will be all that God said it would be,” Lassiter stated. “Progress has been made in Hertford County. There are people who look like me that stand in leadership. That was not done easily. We stood on the shoulders of others who paid a price and allowed me to stand here today and say Hertford County is on the rise.”

Dave Boim, Vice President of Development for Molina Healthcare who was on location at the event providing health wellness checkups, said he drew inspiration from the speakers before him.

“In 1968, just two months before he was taken from us, Dr. King said ‘life’s most consistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others.’ Here in this community, I think we are set to move forward with Dr. King’s inspiration. We are here to support Ahoskie and Hertford County. Let’s all continue the legacy of Dr. King,” Boim said.

Music at Monday’s event was presented by Rev. Wilson and choir members of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

The family of Charles McCullough presented cash gifts to the winners of a youth essay contest.

Charlie P. Morris, a deacon at New Ahoskie Missionary Baptist Church and co-chair of the R.L. Vann Community Resource Center Board of Directors, brought closing remarks and prayer.