The pews of Gloucester’s First United Baptist Church at White Marsh were filled to capacity Monday for a special service to commemorate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The service’s speakers recognized the progress we have made as a society since the Civil Rights Movement, but reminded us of the work that still needs to be done to make King’s famous dream a reality.

The Rev. Stevens Burrell of Gleaning Baptist Church opened the service and recognized the more than dozen pastors who were in attendance. Musical ministry for the service was provided by the Men of Spiritual Expression.

Emily Sue Jones of Zion Poplars Baptist Church introduced the worship leader for the service, Mabel Larrimore. Larrimore was a member of the second high school class in this area to have black students graduate from a formerly all-white institution.

Larrimore described her experiences as one of the first black students to attend her former high school. She told of t...