Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch brings community leaders together in Port Arthur
Published 1:21 pm Monday, January 15, 2024
A total of 600 people were in attendance at the event. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Honorees Destiny Mosely, left, and Glenn Alexander II talk before the event begins. (Mary Meaux/The News)
State Rep. Christian Manuel, grandson of Hargie Faye Savoy, who is founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group of Southeast Texas, speaks to the crowd. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Terry Savoy Hadley addresses the crowd as she assumes the presidency of Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group of Southeast Texas Monday. (Mary Meaux/The News)
The 2024 Man of the Year Lawrence Getwood. The Woman of the Year, Naomi Doyle, was running late and was not photographed as she received her award. (Mary Meaux/The News)
A group of honorees pause for a photo before the start of the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch, including Deondre B. Moore, left, Erika Harris, Alysha Hill, Faisal N. Hussain, Loretta Douglas, Taylor Getwood, Destiny Mosely, Stacey Lewis Jr., Dylan Getwood, Jayven Jean-Louis and Glenn Alexander II. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Members of Doll Girls Dance Studio perform a selection during the event. (Mary Meaux/The News)
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Hargie Faye Savoy may not have been physically in attendance at the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch but she was in spirit and mind and heart.
Addressing a crowd of 600 people via phone, Savoy asked attendees to keep Dr. King’s dream alive.
“Let’s keep it moving. Let’s keep moving and keep going,” Savoy said.
Savoy, founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Support Group of Southeast Texas, stepped down from top leadership of the organization, ceremoniously passing the torch to her daughter, Terry Savoy Hadley, during Monday’s event.
Hadley has been involved in the group her whole life, she said.
Sixteen people received special recognition Monday as honorees, including Destiny Mosely, who was in the recently released movie The Color Purple.
She said being named an honoree is a bit surreal.
“I love, and when I say I love, I absolutely love the city I’m from. I think it’s wonderful to see so many wonderful people coming from such a small city but doing great, amazing things,” said Mosely, a Port Arthur native.
Musical conductor, pianist, producer and arranger Glenn Alexander II is another honoree at the 38th annual celebration.
The Port Arthur Native said it means the world to him to be honored as he grew up attending the event with his parents.
“For me to be a part of it in this way, I can’t describe it,” Alexander said.
Keeping Dr. King’s legacy alive is important, he said, and what the Savoy Family is doing with the MLK group is innovative and monumental, he said.
The group also honored the 2024 Woman of the Year Naomi Doyle. She is Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, Place 1.
“Mrs. Doyle has a charge and that is ‘the time is always right to do what is right,’” said Gail Castille, the 2023 Woman of the Year. “We hope that she will continue to pursue the dream that is peace, equity and equality.”
The 2024 Man of the Year is Lawrence Getwood.
Castille said Getwood exemplified a heartfelt desire for his community and showed it in his family, church and his work.
Honorees include: Toddrick Thomas, Deondre B. Moore, Destiny Mosley, Taylor Getwood, Constable Christopher Bates, Loretta Douglas, Germain Jackson Eddie, Alysha Hill, Erika Harris, Glenn Alexander II, Debbie Parker, Faisal Hussain, Stacey Lewis Jr., Jayven Jean-Louis, and O’Hsaquie Foster and Dylan Getwood.
