Page 36 - Spelman50thReunionBook

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 at

remember the endless line of 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