Cobb County NAACP and county leaders mark MLK Day with performances, awards and call for continued civil-rights activism

Marietta — Hundreds gathered for the Cobb County NAACP’s 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration at the Marietta Civic Center, where local officials, performers and community leaders honored King’s legacy, recognized volunteers and urged renewed public service.

Fred Blankenship, the event’s master of ceremonies, opened the program and set the day’s theme as "Together, we can be the dream," encouraging applause and community support for performers and speakers. Cobb County chairwoman Lisa Cupid welcomed attendees, thanked public-safety personnel and elected officials, and framed the event as a family celebration of service.

The program included ceremonial elements — the Marietta High School junior ROTC presented the colors and students led the Pledge of Allegiance — followed by musical performances. Kayla Belcher led a rendition of "Lift Every Voice," and Shauna Adams of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard sang the national anthem. Performers also included Willie Rich and flutist Michelle Courtney; youth groups and dance troupes rounded out the program.

The NAACP observed a moment of silence to honor elder Willie Lee Davis, a longtime branch photographer whose death the organizers noted during the program.

One of the day’s main events was the presentation of the NAACP’s "Living the Dream" award to former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes. Barnes accepted the honor and reflected on his life in Cobb County, recalling that he attended segregated public schools and describing civil-rights progress as the result of persistence. "We live in times when a supreme court does not support the rights of individuals and civil rights," Barnes said, urging attendees to remain engaged and to continue working for justice.

Organizers used the celebration to solicit donations for scholarships and NAACP membership. Tanya LaFleur and other NAACP executive-committee members acknowledged sponsors and volunteers — including Cobb County Government Parks and Recreation, Georgia Power Company, the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta (which sponsored a reception), and numerous volunteer groups — and listed planning-committee members.

Pastor Joe Evans of First Presbyterian Church delivered the benediction and announced a lunch reception next door to the Civic Center. Emcee Blankenship closed the program by thanking performers, organizers and the audience and encouraging continued unity and service in Cobb County.

The program combined ceremonial protocol, musical performances and remarks that connected local history to national civil-rights concerns. Organizers asked attendees to support scholarships and NAACP work via QR codes and on-site pledge opportunities.