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