Mayor Robert Smith hoped people would join together and ignore color during the sixth annual Senior Citizens Unity Luncheon at the Trotter Convention Center Wednesday, but it was hard to overlook Dora Stewart, who had donned a bright smile and a striking lavender suit — replete with hat — for the occasion.
Stewart, 82, grew up in Macon and said she had been looking forward to the luncheon for a while. As her dinner companions enjoyed a Thanksgiving-style meal, she pondered the Mississippi of her youth and the role unity plays in the state today, saying true unification “still (has) a long ways to go.” But she feels that with prayer, people’s hearts can be opened.
“It’s just a blessing to be living and see this going on and be a part of it,” Stewart said.
Smith conceived the event in 2006 as a way to thank senior citizens for their service to the community, and since that time, he has seen it grow from around 400 people to nearly 700. It’s a big undertaking, requiring almost three months of preparation, more than 100 volunteers and a planning committee.
The food was prepared by child nutritionists from Stokes-Beard Elementary School and served by Columbus High School students and airmen from Columbus Air Force Base. Entertainment was provided by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program Band and the Columbus Middle School Girls’ Choir.
The Rev. Shawn Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church in Columbus, gave the invocation, and the Rev. Kenny Gardner, of Columbus Christian Center, delivered the occasion.
As the mayor stared out at the crowd, he said he felt proud of what the event has become and the diversity it represents. It’s not only good for the residents in Columbus; it makes economic sense, too, drawing newcomers to the city, he said.
“When people see the city unified, there’s better support from businesses, retail developers and industry,” Smith said.
In addition, involving area youth in the luncheon helps bridge generational divides, said Greg Lewis, program director for the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority, which co-sponsored the event.
As a native of Columbus, Lewis has seen a lot of change over the years. As much progress as has been made in race relations, “there’s a little more work to be done,” he said.
But for CarLee Gunn Cooper, 69, things seem much better now. She grew up in Columbus, graduated from Hunt High School and moved to Ohio at the age of 17. She remembers a time when the races did not socialize together, and as she enjoyed her lunch, she pointed out the diverse friendships playing out across the room.
“It seems like they’re coming together now,” Cooper said. “We had black and white schools — now they’re going to school together.”
Unity in education was heavily on Dr. Martha Liddell’s mind as well. Liddell, who serves as interim superintendent for the Columbus Municipal School District, delivered the welcome message.
As she watched students from the city schools pour tea and stop to chat with senior citizens, she said the most clear-cut way of seeing whether unification efforts are working is to look at the schools, which are a microcosm of society.
Discordant schools tend to be an early signal of racial tension on the streets. Likewise, harmony in the classroom is a good indicator of overall harmony within a city, she said.
The key to peace ultimately may begin at home, Liddell said. If parents respect school administrators and teachers, children tend to do so as well.
“It’s our role to lead our children,” Liddell said. “… We need to be willing to talk to each other … we don’t need to retreat into corners. If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
