Chairs were added and the room filled quickly Monday morning as residents from across Clarendon County gathered for the City of Manning’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, a reflection of both community interest and the enduring power of King’s message.
Held at the Billie S. Fleming Sr. Public Safety Building, the program blended prayer, music and a keynote message centered on unity, service and leadership — themes Mayor Julia Nelson said remain as relevant in 2026 as they were during the civil rights era.
“It’s a great problem to have,” Nelson said as organizers adjusted seating before the program began. “There’s not a person in this room who has not benefited from his courage. He believed in justice, and he did it in a way only by peace.”
The observance opened with prayer by Delaney Kay Frierson, who thanked God for King’s lasting influence and prayed for peace across the nation.
“We are still giving you the glory, the honor and praise that is due you because of the creation that you gave us,” Frierson said. “On this day, there will be peace across this entire nation as we honor your gift, your influencer.”
Music followed, with a soulful solo from Dr. Brenda Clark that set a reflective tone for the program, drawing quiet moments of contemplation from the audience.
Nelson then introduced the keynote speaker, Clarendon County Deputy Administrator Sharmane Anderson, describing her as a person who “stands on what’s right every day” and quietly seeks justice for others.
In her remarks, Anderson challenged attendees to think beyond remembrance and toward action, framing her message around a central question: where are we leading our followers?
If she were to lift up a theme, Anderson said, it would be that question — one rooted in both constitutional ideals and moral responsibility.
“The authors of the Constitution were forward-thinking when they began with the words ‘We the people,’” Anderson said. “They didn’t lead with any separation of nationalities or races. They simply began with ‘we.’ Even now, as we approach our 250th anniversary as a nation, we are still seeking a more perfect union.”
Drawing from Christian scripture and broader faith traditions, Anderson spoke of leadership as service, citing Matthew 25 and its call to feed the hungry, welcome strangers and care for the sick and imprisoned.
“He did not say feed only this group or clothe only that group,” she said. “He said, ‘the least of these.’ Our forefathers and ancestors had the audacity to believe that leaders would create an environment of equality and equity.”
Anderson placed King among a long list of historical influencers — some remembered for good, others for harm — to emphasize the responsibility leaders carry.
“This proves that whatever cause we have, the power is in the people,” she said. “Martin Luther King Jr. believed that if the world saw injustice, action would take place — and it did.”
She acknowledged the progress born of King’s leadership, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and desegregation, while also recognizing the cost.
“At what expense?” Anderson asked. “The death and trauma of many so we can all live together.”
Turning the focus local, Anderson reminded the audience that unity is often practiced naturally in everyday life — in schools, sports and moments of shared loss.
“When our children play sports, we don’t separate teams by race,” she said. “We say the Wolverines, the Eagles, the Saints. When we lose leaders like June Briggs or Councilman W.J. Frierson, we don’t label them by race. We say they were exceptional people.”
The challenge, she said, is carrying that same mindset into leadership, civic engagement and community service.
“Are we feeding people? Are we clothing people? Are we welcoming people who move to our community?” Anderson asked. “Do we volunteer, or do we just complain?”
She urged residents to step beyond screens and conversations and connect physically with one another, stressing that unity is built through action.
“We are all Manning. We are all Summerton. We are all Turbeville. We are all Paxville,” she said. “More importantly, we all make up this legendary, history-making Clarendon County.”
Anderson closed by pointing to the county’s deep civil rights roots — home of Briggs v. Elliott, birthplace of tennis and golf great Althea Gibson, and a community that has produced five South Carolina governors.
“We have the capacity to believe that we are stronger together,” she said.
Following her remarks, Dr. Clark returned with another musical selection before former Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart delivered a unity prayer, asking for healing, hope and wise use of community resources.
“We have such people of faith here,” Stewart said. “We see God’s will carried out every day — sometimes in big ways, sometimes in subtle ways, but always in good ways.”
As the observance concluded with prayer and fellowship, the morning reflected King’s enduring legacy: remembrance paired with responsibility, and words matched with action.
