Historical November–December 1998 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The annual Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration will be held on January 17 at Grace and Peace Church, Delmar at Clara. Parking will be available in the ConnectCare lot across the street.
The program begins at 3:00 p.m. and will last approximately two hours, The choir of New Cote Brilliante Church of God will offer several selections. Students from Hamilton, St. Roch, Crossroads, New City, and Bethel schools will provide songs and skits about the famous Washington March. Bonita Cornute, of Channel 2, will speak.
She is a longtime resident of Skinker DeBaliviere. Ms. Cornute joined Channel 2 in 1982.
She is a General Assignment Reporter.
She has often covered the complex issues and events that affect women and minorities in the St. Louis Community. Ms. Cornute has served as president of the St. Louis Association of Black Journalists.
She has won four local Emmys and has also received the NAACP’s Crisis Magazine Role Model of the Year Award, the Shero Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Coalition of 100 Black Women and community service awards from the Walbridge Caring Communities Program and Matthew Dickey Boys Club. Cornute is. also active in community organizations, including the St. Louis Black Repertory Company and the St. Louis Public Schools.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the People’s Health Center and the Community Outreach Committee of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Cornute will discuss the meaning of the March in her remarks.
The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council coordinates the Commemoration.
The committee this years has been led by Greg Freeman. Members include Ruth Johnson, Shirley’ Polk, Gwen Lazard, Ronie Haliburton, Ann Smith Carr, Lana Stein, and Rev. Lutjens of Grace and Peace.
This is the first commemoration to take place without the stewardship of Virgil “Jack” Wright. Wright helped to found the event and served as its chairman for many years. At the upcoming commemoration, Wright will be honored by the SDCC and friends and family.
His daughters have participated in the planning. Everyone hopes that many in our neighborhood—young and old—will attend. Let’s keep the legacy of Dr. King foremost in our minds and also honor Jack Wright, who worked so hard to see that that legacy would continually be passed on to our young.
Original photograph caption
Bonita Cornute. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1998_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
