On the day Americans paused to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) gathered more than 500 alumni, students, elected officials, clergy and community leaders for its 35th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Alumni Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 19, 2026, at the Renasant Convention Center.
Held on the federal holiday observing King’s birthday, the breakfast carried the theme “Keeping the Dream Alive Through Education,” underscoring the role historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to play in advancing justice, opportunity and civic leadership.
The morning opened with an instrumental version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” or the Black National Anthem. The atmosphere blended celebration and solemn reflection, as alumni embraced old classmates, sorority and fraternity sisters and brother, respectively, and students took part in a tradition rooted in faith and social responsibility.
Student leadership was prominently represented, and a few shared their personal platform anchors designed to strengthen leadership, purpose and resilience of the student body. In attendance were Khadajah Kimbrough, Miss LeMoyne-Owen College, along with class representatives Johnasia O’Neal, Miss Junior; Brianna Lesure, Miss Sophomore, whose platform is focused on bringing spiritual values back to center; Naiyelle Taylor, Miss Freshman; and Marvin Johnson, Mister Senior, who reflected on the legacy left by his grandparents and the teaching of his mother, and said his platform is founded on being professional, “leading, looking nice, being about business, and understanding that we don’t play at LOC.”
The invocation and blessing were delivered by Dr. Rosalyn Nichols, class of 1985, and LOC’s vice president for donor prospect and strategic engagement. A series of prayers followed, focusing on the spiritual, social and economic challenges facing Memphis and the broader nation.
Dr. Janie Dowdy Dandridge of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church offered the Prayer for the Community, calling on God to “stand in the gap for our city, heal the wounds of racism and violence, and transform faith into faithful action.”
Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus of Middle Baptist Church led the Prayer for Peace and Justice, invoking King’s vision of a world grounded in love, equity and compassion.
Additional prayers addressed economic empowerment, the future of LeMoyne-Owen College, and its students and leadership. Rev. Vincent Joplin, class of 2001, of Hope Church Memphis prayed for stewardship of resources, while Rev. James C. Wiggins of Fellowship United M.B. Church lifted prayers for the college’s president, Rev. Dr. Christopher B. Davis, Sr., faculty and students to remain resilient in the face of obstacles.
Masters of ceremony Rev. Stoney Butler, Jr., and Ena Esco, class of 2001, guided the program. Musical selections by Jolynn Diggs, including “Soon I Will Be Done with the Troubles of the World” and later “Precious Lord,” added soulful and emotional depth to the day.
The 14th president of LOC, Davis introduced the keynote speaker, but not before acknowledging the trustees in attendance, those responsible for the program, who would later speak, and shamelessly plugging his podcast called “What You Said.”
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, 12th president of Tennessee State University (HBCU) and 30th international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A Memphis native, Glover framed education as both resistance and responsibility.
“Education is the most durable form of resistance,” Glover said. “It is the great equalizer and the foundation of every movement for justice.”
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Memphis marked the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, with marches, prayers and calls to action across the city. From Teamsters Local 667’s annual MLK Day march honoring King’s final stand with sanitation workers, to LeMoyne-Owen College’s 35th annual Alumni Prayer Breakfast and the NAACP’s “Memphis Men Rising” gathering, community members reflected on King’s dream while recommitting to justice, education and service. Together, the events underscored this year’s themes of remembrance, renewal and collective responsibility. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
More than 500 alumni, students and community members attend the 35th Annual LeMoyne-Owen College Martin Luther King Jr. Alumni Prayer Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis. The annual event focused on honoring King’s legacy through education, service and civic engagement. (Candace A. Gray/Tri-State Defender) 
Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, past president of Tennessee State University, presents a $10,000 check to LeMoyne-Owen College leaders during the 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Alumni Prayer Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis. Glover’s gift sparked an impromptu fundraising effort that raised more than $30,000 for student scholarships. (Candace A. Gray/Tri-State Defender)
Glover spoke of her personal ties to LOC, her father, Henry Baskin, and his role as a civil rights leader in Memphis, including his supervision of sanitation workers during the 1968 strike. She contrasted incremental progress with persistent inequities, citing disparities in poverty, incarceration, health care access and voter participation.
“We must vote. We must serve. And we must keep standing,” Glover said, recounting challenges she faced advocating for fair funding for HBCUs during her tenure at TSU. “Don’t get discouraged because someone hurt your feelings. When you rise to new levels, you encounter new devils, but you keep serving.”
Glover reminded the audience of the $100,000 endowment installment from Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2019 to LOC, and personally presented $10,000 to LeMoyne-Owen during the breakfast. Her remarks sparked an impromptu fundraising effort that raised more than $30,000 for student scholarships. She went on to “preach” for a few minutes, using biblical references and spiritual songs to ground the work she called us to do.
Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery later presented a $25,000 check generated through his annual golf tournament, and highlighted more than $1.5 million in county funding secured for the college.
The program also honored the legacy of his father, the late Myron Lowery, with Davis noting that leadership is measured not by title, but by lasting impact. The Lowery Communication Center was cited as a testament to his service. “His work is finished, but his impact remains,” said Davis of the late Lowery. Following the breakfast, Lowery’s official enshrinement took place at the building on the LOC campus.
The breakfast concluded with words of appreciation from alumni leaders, including National Alumni Association President, Alandria London, class of 1994; Memphis Chapter President William Anderson, class of 1998; and alumni Jesse Chatman, class of 1971; Bridget Harvey, Class of 1994; and Joi Hill, Class of 2001, all of whom worked on the event host committee.
As attendees departed the breakfast, the message of the day was clear: Remembrance must be matched by recommitment and action.
