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MLK honored at 38th annual banquet

Sahreniti Jones of the Taylor Music Studio entertains the group with a song. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
January 21, 2026

The 38th annual banquet honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was held Jan. 17, at the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence in Georgetown. 

The theme of the weekend was Moving Forward Amidst the Storm.

The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Debbie Harrington from the Delaware State University board of trustees.

The Taylor Music Studio entertained attendees at the banquet. 

 

Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester sings along with “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the annual banquet for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester gives a hug to Sunshine Circle Club’s Bernice Edwards. With them is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization Sussex County Inc. President Clem Jordan.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization Sussex County Inc. President Clem Jordan welcomes the crowd and introduces the Mistress of Ceremonies Waynne H. Paskins.
Mistress of Ceremonies Waynne H. Paskins welcomes the audience and gives the evening’s itinerary.
Ralph Gooch from the Israel United Methodist Church gives the invocation.
Rehoboth Elementary School student Wayne Christian Hall gives a reading during the ceremony.
Marleah Johnson, 10, reads the program while waiting for dinner to start.
Getting together before the dinner are (l-r) Rep. Alonna Berry, D-Milton; State Auditor Lydia York; Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes; Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester; and Georgetown Mayor Bill West.
The Rev. George and Ardeth Edwards enjoy the ceremony.
Presenting an award of appreciation for Stell Parker Selby are Clem Jordan and Katina Gooch. Accepting the award for Stell Parker Selby is her friend Jackie Briscoe.
Doris Price, an artist from Millsboro, donated this painted picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be raffled off at the event.
Dr. Marlene Sanders of the Delaware State University’s board of trustees introduces keynote speaker Dr. Debbie Harrington
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Debbie Harrington of the Delaware State University’s board of trustees. She spoke about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a servant of Jesus before he was a Civil Rights leader.
Dr. Debbie Harrington is presented a plaque of appreciation from the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Organization Sussex County Inc. Shown are (l-r) committee President Clem Jordan, Harrington, Janie Miller and Katina Gooch.
Don Peterson, immediate past vice president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization Sussex County Inc. is presented with a plaque of appreciation. Shown are (l-r) Clem Jordan, organization president; Peterson; and member Katina Gooch.
Reader Mia Hall gets a certificate of appreciation from Clem Jordan, president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization Sussex County Inc., left, and member Katina Gooch.
Enjoying the event are (l-r) State Auditor Lydia York, Dana Paskins, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester and keynote speaker Dr. Debbie Harrington.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester lends a hand in serving the refreshments at the event.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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