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My Memories of the Funeral of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Michelle Smith
The years 1965 to 1969 were notables as well as faculty,
tumultuous, exciting and life students and everyday citizens
changing. Foremost among the life came from everywhere to pay
changing events was the their respects. They were
assassination and funeral of Martin young, old and in between. I
Luther King, Jr. From the shock saw Harry Belafonte, Sammy
and sadness of learning of his Davis Jr., Mahalia Jackson,
death the evening of Thursday, Robert Kennedy, Ossie Davis,
April 4th to his funeral five days Ruby Dee, James Baldwin and
later on Tuesday, April 9th, life Lena Horne. Kennedy, Ossie
went into overdrive and I sensed Davis, Ruby Dee, James
things would never be the same. I Baldwin and Lena Horne.
remember the sadness and tears I hung out at Canterbury House,
and a fear I hadn't felt before. I the Episcopal Student Center
remember the endless line of at Morehouse and Father Scott
people snaking around campus asked me to be a student
from the front gate to Sister's marshal at the public funeral on
Chapel where King lay in state to the Morehouse quadrangle
walk by his casket for one final Tuesday afternoon. Morehouse
glance. I remember the clear plastic and Spelman students were to
cover placed over his casket to join hands and create a human
prevent touching. Limousines filled chain around the VIP seats to
with movie stars, politicians and secure them until the King
