Ocean City to Honor Rozelia Cobb During Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

The woman who organized the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Ceremony held in Ocean City 25 years ago will be honored during this year’s celebration, set for Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Ocean City High School Hughes Performing Arts Center, 6th and Atlantic Avenue, 1 p.m.

“It was organized by the late Rozelia Cobb, a popular, special education teacher at the Ocean City Intermediate School,” Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer said this week. “Rozelia realized the importance of the Civil Rights leader. She believed that young people should learn about his contributions and be involved in the event.”

Ocean City’s celebration was the first of its kind in Cape May County, according to Soifer.

Early celebrations included Ocean City students and local dancers and singers, with the accent on youth, and that tradition will continue this year, Soifer said.

This year’s celebration concludes with Rev. Gregory Johnson reciting Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

A Soul Food Dinner follows the ceremony. It is prepared by the talented women of Shiloh Baptist Church and Macedonia Methodist Church.

The Southern style comfort food menu includes fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, collard greens and more. The lunch will be served in the Ocean City High School Cafeteria.

The Day of Service takes place Monday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-noon. Sign up, supply distribution and lunch will take place at the Senior Center, located in the Community Center at 18th and Bay. To sign up, contact Charlotte Moyer at 609-399-6111, ext. 9711.

For more information, contact Councilman Antwan McClellan at 609-517-6593 or Councilman Keith Hartzell at 609-289-1484.