This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 16, was marked by celebrations of the civil rights icon’s life across West Volusia. In DeLand, Stetson University and local organizers put together a celebration of MLK that included a breakfast, a march down Woodland Boulevard and a party at Earl Brown Park.
1 of 19

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
A TASTY BREAKFAST — Ahead of the other MLK Day festivities, attendees to DeLand’s annual MLK Celebration kicked things off with breakfast. Above are June Huff with Renee, Alise, Lillian and Eleana Watson.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
HOST WITH THE MOST — The DeLand MLK Committee’s
breakfast was hosted by STAR 94.5 radio host JoJo Oneal,
pictured here with MLK Committee Event Organizer Andre
Darby. Oneal was recognized for her support of the committee’s event and the community as a whole.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Justin Burns and Malit Langhorne hold a sign while Bishop Euqene Colliee speaks.

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
LIFT EVERY VOICE — The DeLand MLK Committee breakfast was punctuated by vocal performances. The breakfast began
with a performance of the civil rights anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and ended when audience members joined hands and sang “We Shall Overcome.”

BEACON PHOTO/JEFF SHEPHERD
KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE — Members of Sisters Build Inc., a local nonprofit mentoring organization, march in
DeLand’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade through Downtown DeLand Jan. 16.

PHOTO COURTESY KITTY ALLEN
WINNERS! — Another part of the annual MLK Day celebration is the poster contest. Pictured is MLK Committee member Althea Chavers “The Beautiful” and a member of the Lacey Family Spring Hill Boys & Girls Club. The Boys & Girls Club’s poster took home third place, while a poster by Demari Pasley took second and a poster from kids at St. Ann’s Church won first place.