“I am going to encourage all of us, as far as this journey goes, let us continue to do our part to live out the legacy that Dr. King stood for, and what he gave his life for.”

Pastor Robert Godwin’s message echoed throughout the courthouse rotunda; the inspiring tale of his life touching all of those in attendance regardless of their age or race.

Mexico joins the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration organization and Pastor Robert Godwin in the Audrain County Courthouse, at noon, Monday for a special holiday program.

The organization, which is currently operating out of the St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, was generated from the NAACP program in the Mexico area.

“We had former community persons and leadership who wanted to do something special to highlight the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Jaye Jackson, director of the Mexico chapter.

What they decided on was a special community celebration on the holiday that would focus on not only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a person, but everything he stood for.

On this day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration had a packed program starting off right at noon with Mistress of Ceremony, Deb Haag. After Haag’s introduction, everyone rose to join organist Barbara Green and speakers in singing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”, followed by an inspirational reading by Twila Overton.

There to entertain was the Children’s Community Choir directed by Jackson as well as Mexico Middle School students: Amelia Raines, Abby Jenkins, Brooklyn Wieberg, Haven Murray, Xandi Norton and Ian Wharton who stood before the crowd to read their personal essays.

Representing the Audrain County Commission was Leslie Meyer. Her and Mayor Vicki Briggs bestowed honors to Jackson and her committee including a signed photograph from President Johnson’s library of Dr. King during the iconic signing of legislation and two mayoral proclamations.

Jackson credits the founding of the Mexico group to the late Margery “Marge” Gantt and other predecessors, such as former Mexico Public Schools teacher, Jo Ann Thomas.

When Jackson got involved, the group had started to die off and numbers began to dwindle.

“I was determined that we were going to hold onto that celebration,” says Jackson. “It’s just a small committee of two or three who connect, communicate and make every effort to organize functions and activities to celebrate.”

Jackson, who currently works at Ameren’s Callaway Energy Center, felt a special connection to the organization.

“I work in a job that has a diverse atmosphere with great pay and benefits, and I don't know that that existed 100 years ago,” Jackson explains. “I feel his legacy made a way for me, this young Black girl, to have the advantages I do today.

The organization has been working to keep the program and the holiday celebration alive for the past 20 years, coming up with activities to give their community hands-on involvement.

“We try to incorporate churches, business, entrepreneurs, students, just to keep it really diverse and keep everyone involved,” says Jackson.

Among those activities are a Black History program hosted every February, a musical open to all neighboring communities, a pancake prayer breakfast, and their symbolic walk to the courthouse preceding the holiday celebration.

“For this day to be so free for us, and it’s no longer a Black freedom; it’s a people freedom, it is a call to justice for everyone,” explains Jackson. “To be reminded of the struggle that our forefathers went through to make it possible for us to walk on the nice smooth pavement without any torture or ridicule is the purpose of the walk.”

This year’s walk was canceled due to poor weather conditions. At the time the walk was scheduled, the temperature was a whopping 11°.

“We will not have children and senior citizens out there walking in those temperatures,” says Jackson, who normally sees a much older and much younger crowd joining her on the walk in past years.

Diversity is a huge facet of Dr. Martin Luther King Community Celebration and this year’s theme, ‘Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365' is for everyone regardless of race or political preference.

“The sole purpose of the program is to keep that legacy alive; to keep folks thinking,” says Jackson. “It’s not one day but many days throughout the year.”

Anyone interested in learning more or joining the organization can contact Jaye Jackson by email at jayray.jj@gmail.com or call her at 573-253-7257.