“It was a grand celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Ruby Stevens but with word and praise and prayer with songs. Everyone just had a great grand time today.”

Those were the words of Daphne Maxwell, Co-Chair for the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee following a gospel celebration Sunday at the Second Missionary Baptist Church. The event marked the beginning of the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and also remembered the late Ruby Stevens, the founder of the King celebration in Junction City.

Stevens began the celebration when she oversaw the Komomantyn Club at Junction City High School 34 years ago. In later years it moved to other public locations including the C. L. Hoover Opera House. Maxwell said the thoughts about Ruby and her legacy dealt with how she began the celebration years ago. “And how the Lord put that into Ruby Stevens, how she acted on it and as it grew more and more over the years, of course her passing this past year in 2018, and how the celebration is taken a little higher and a little higher each and every year.”

The guest speaker for the event Sunday was Dr. Desmond Lamb, from Forrest Grove Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. He was accompanied by singers from his church as well. Maxwell stated, “He talked about a Christian coalition, but what it really means to not only to speak what you say but is to follow on what you say.”

The observance continues Monday at 10 a.m. at the C. L. Hoover Opera House. Maxwell said they will capture the life of Ruby Stevens and give three awards, unveil a quilt, there will be singers, and USD 475 educator Trey Walker will be the guest speaker. There will be a traditional walk through the downtown area following the ceremony at the Opera House.