Music has been a sustaining force behind the civil rights movement from its earliest days, and continues to give strength to those in the struggle today.

That was the message delivered by the Rev. Marcellus Harris III, guest speaker at Sunday’s Martin Luther King Jr. observance at Wayland Baptist Church, Beaverlett, which was sponsored by the Mathews chapter of the NAACP.

Hallie Holmes served as mistress of ceremony and began the service as the church piano reverberated with the tune of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Music was central to the service, as musical selections punctuated the readings of scripture and also featured heavily in the sermon of Mr. Harris, who is also a Newport News City Councilman.

Harris was introduced by Faith Carter following a welcome by Paul Dubois, husband of the county’s newest supervisor, Amy Dubois. His wife was originally scheduled to offer the welcome message, but was home battling the flu and could not attend.

“She wa...