The Holly Springs Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee: A Living Legacy
Contributed by Furman Beckwith
The story of the Holly Springs Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee begins in 2005, when a group of local residents gathered at First Baptist Church, then led by Reverend Otis Byrd, with a shared vision: to honor Dr. King’s legacy through sustained community engagement. Parrish Womble, Nancy Womble, Flora Hawkins, George Kimble, Victoria Judd, Reverend Otis Byrd, Carrie Norris Byrd, Ralph Joyner, Brittany M. Jones, Peggy Jones, Jamie Jones, Thomas Tillage, Jean Jones, Nafiskas Covington, and Gerald Hollerman formed the Committee’s founding body.
Their first meeting set the tone for what would become a long‑standing civic institution. After thoughtful discussion and planning, the group drafted Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, officially establishing the Committee in June 2005.
A Tradition of Celebration and Civic Pride
The Committee’s inaugural celebration of Dr. King’s birthday took place that same year. The day began with a march from the Holly Springs Food Lion to the Holly Ridge Middle School auditorium, drawing approximately 300 participants. North Carolina Senator Daniel Blue delivered the keynote address, joined by United States Representative David Price, Mayor Dick Sears, and representatives from the Governor’s Office.
Local organizations, including the Holly Springs Women’s Club, the United Arts Council, the Town of Holly Springs, Food Lion, and Lowe’s Foods, provided honorariums, refreshments, and materials, helping establish the celebration as a cornerstone of the Town’s cultural calendar.
From 2006 to 2011, the annual celebration was held at First Baptist Church on Grigsby Avenue, later moving to the Holly Springs Cultural Center in 2012.
Education, Service, and Community Building
In 2015, the Committee awarded scholarships for the first time: three $500 awards to graduating seniors at Holly Springs High School. That same year, it launched its annual Golf Tournament at Devil’s Ridge Country Club in memory of founding member Carrie Norris Byrd.
The Committee continued expanding its programming, adding a prayer breakfast to the Dr. King weekend and organizing a Sunday march followed by a community program at the Cultural Center.
Civic engagement became a defining part of the Committee’s mission. It held its first Get Out the Vote drive in 2016 and hosted the first Holly Springs Community Day at Womble Park in 2017.
In 2018, the Committee made a $2,500 donation to the Holly Springs Food Cupboard and began participating in Meals on Wheels deliveries throughout Holly Springs and surrounding communities.
A major milestone came in 2019, when the Committee pledged $25,000 toward creating a Sacred Space for Prayer and Meditation at UNC Rex Hospital in Holly Springs. The final payment was completed in 2025, marking one of the Committee’s most significant philanthropic contributions.
Preserving Local History and Expanding Cultural Programs
Beginning in 2020, the Committee joined the annual Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade. In 2021, it placed a bronze plaque at the North Main Athletic Complex to honor Black baseball players from Holly Springs and nearby communities who played in the Negro League – a meaningful recognition of local athletic history.
The Committee also began supporting the Unity in the Community Program and expanded its Black History Month offerings starting in 2022. These included presentations on Black leaders from Holly Springs, both those who shaped the Town and those who achieved distinction elsewhere, as well as a Black History Film Series featuring works central to Black history and cinema.
In 2024, the Committee held its first Juneteenth celebration, marking a new chapter in its ongoing mission to honor African American history and celebrate freedom, resilience, and community.
Continuing the Work
Today, the Holly Springs Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee stands as one of the Town’s most enduring civic organizations. Its history reflects a steady commitment to education, service, cultural preservation, and unity – values that continue to shape Holly Springs and inspire future generations.