Local youth attend Coretta Scott King funeral

Cascade High School freshmen Dylan Phillips, Tyler Woods and Tevin Lanier attended the funeral services for Coretta Scott King in Atlanta on Feb. 6-7. Dustyn Phillips (front), who is home schooled, also attended with his mother and the other young men. (T-G Photo by Doug Dezotell) [Click to enlarge]

Wanting her sons to experience a piece of American history, Donna Phillips of Bell Buckle made arrangements to take her sons, Dylan and Dustin, to Atlanta for the funeral services of civil rights icon Coretta Scott King.

When Dylan, a Cascade High School freshman, told two friends he was going to the funeral, they asked to go along. With the approval of their parents, Tyler Woods and Tevin Lanier, also Cascade freshmen, joined the Phillips family and headed south on Feb. 6.

The widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid in honor in the rotunda of the Georgia Capitol building in downtown Atlanta on Saturday, Feb. 4, and on Monday her body was available for viewing at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she was a member and her husband served as co-pastor before his assassination.

Upon their arrival in Atlanta on Monday, the Bedford County group soon found themselves along the street in a long line of mourners braving the cold and rain waiting to get into Ebenezer Baptist to view Mrs. King's body. They later attended a memorial musical celebration at the Ebenezer Baptist Horizon Sanctuary across the street from the old church.

A mass choir, called the Coretta Scott King Memorial Choir, was formed to sing throughout the memorial celebration. Tributes were paid to Mrs. King by a number of well-known religious and civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Markel Hutchins, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Andrew Young and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Mrs. King's funeral was held at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, one of the largest churches in the Atlanta area. The church sanctuary, seating 10,000, was so packed other church facilities were used to handle the overflow crowd who were able to participate in the funeral via a video feed.

Hundreds gathered on the streets outside to pay their respects.

A small group of protesters along the route to the funeral somewhat saddened Mrs. Phillips and the boys, but they were soon heartened by the masses assembled in tribute.

"I really didn't think there would be any protesters there," said Dylan. "But, there was a small group of about six white people that had anti-gay posters. Coretta was for human rights for everybody, including gays and lesbians, and I guess they didn't like her for that. The signs were hurtful and showed complete disrespect. I wanted to say something to them, but I thought about what Dr. King and Coretta would have done, and I just kept quiet and kept my dignity."

One experience the Cascade freshmen recall is that of a pregnant woman in the crowds along the streets going into labor. An ambulance arrived to take the young woman to the hospital.

"It was just a great experience," Mrs. Phillips said of their venture. "We were moved by the volume of people walking the Atlanta streets to attend Coretta's funeral. And we were all impressed by the presence and support of Congress, the Senate, and our Presidents. The positive atmosphere really celebrated the life of Coretta rather than mourning it."

"It was amazing to see how one person impacted so many people," Tyler commented. "People of all races and so many different nations were there. One thing that touched me was to see this policewoman there to help direct the crowds crying out of respect for Mrs. King."

"As we were walking to the church, it hit me that here were thousands of people walking the streets to pay their respects to Black America's First Lady," Tevin said. "The speakers were all speaking with great respect and gratitude. I know that Coretta Scott King is one of the most influential black women of American history."

Dustyn, just 7 years old, was impressed by the fiery and poetic oratory of the Rev. Joseph Lowery of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Another favorite speaker of the young men was former President Bill Clinton, who inspired the crowds at the funeral.

Mrs. Phillips said attending this event will be an experience remembered by the young men for a lifetime, and one she was happy to share with her sons and their friends.