The Christine King Farris Memorial Choir
The founding of the Christine King Farris Memorial Choir was inspired by former members of the Ebenezer Baptist Church Martin Luther King Choir, an idea at the time of the homegoing celebrations for Dr. Christine King Farris. Established in January 2024, the choir honors the memory of Dr. Christine King Farris, a long-time member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, co-builder of The King Center, Professor Emerita of Spelman College and daughter of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr. The Choir is led by Artistic Director, Mr. Lanvester Jackson, and acknowledges Dr. Farris’ tireless leadership in the community. Today marks the inaugural concert of The Christine King Farris Memorial Choir, a fundraiser to support The Christine King Farris Legacy Foundation. The mission of the Christine King Farris Legacy Foundation is to support college scholarships and to promote leadership development initiatives.
About Dr. Christine King Farris
Willie Christine King was born to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Mrs. Alberta Williams King on September 11, 1927. Willie Christine King was the couple’s first child, named after her mother’s family name, Williams. She and her younger brothers, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Alfred Daniel (A.D.) King, were born in the family home (now “The Birth Home” of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site), originally owned by her grandparents, the Reverend and Mrs. Adam Daniel Williams.
Christine King Farris attended public and private schools in Atlanta, Young Street Elementary School, Atlanta University’s Oglethorpe Elementary, Laboratory High, and Booker T. Washington High School. She also attended Spelman College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1948. She earned a Master of Arts in the Social Foundations of Education (1950) and, a Master of Arts in Special Education (1958), both at Columbia University.
Dr. Farris devoted her life to her family, education, service, nonviolence, and her church. She worked for the Atlanta Public School System until she married the love of her life, Mr. Isaac Newton Farris, Sr. in 1960. She then began 56 years of service at Spelman College where she served as Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Learning Resources Center. She simultaneously served as the co-builder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, supporting the efforts of her sister-in-law, Coretta Scott King. Dr. Farris served as Vice Chair and Treasurer for The King Center for many, many years.
Christine King Farris was a life-long member and the longest serving, to date, of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Her work in Ebenezer included roles as producer for the Sunday morning televised worship service, wedding consultant and director, soloist in the choir, founder of the Christine King Farris Handbell Choir, and conduit for academic scholarships. She was also a member of Ebenezer’s Finance committee, Church Life and Program committee, September Club, and Trustee board.
Dr. Farris was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The LINKS, Inc. and the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. She was an author and the recipient of numerous awards for her significant contributions to society.
Dr. Christine King Farris was the mother of Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. and Angela Christine Farris Watkins and grandmother of Farris Christine Watkins. They are carrying on her distinguished legacy along with the countless other lives she touched in her own extraordinary way.
Order of Service
Cassi Davis-Patton, Mistress of Ceremony
Greetings
Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock
Ebenezer Baptist Church Praise Team
Dr. Patrice E. Turner, Director of Worship and the Arts
Blessed Assurance
Text: Fanny Jane Crosby
Tune: ASSURANCE; Phoebe Palmer Knapp
Every Praise
Written by J. David Bratton and Hezekiah Walker
The Christine King Farris Memorial Choir Lanvester Jackson, Artistic Director
Praises Unto You – (Lanvester Jackson)
Soloist: Tuwanna Whatley
“I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.”
Psalms 9: 1 (NKJV)
He Made the Difference - (James Bignon)
Trio: Marigny Young, Sharon Lee & Vivian Bradford
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
He’s Not A Little Baby Anymore - (A. Jeffrey LaValley)
Soloist: Jacqueline Martin
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 6:9 (NKJV)
Marvelous – (Walter Hawkins)
Soloist: Reverend Frank Brown
Soprano: Cristel Camp & Angela Russell – Alto: Celita Hudson & Sharon Lee
Contralto: Tamika Kelly & Carolyn Evans
“…Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Psalms 139:14 (NKJV)
Christine King Farris Handbell Choir
Denise Willingham-Huewitt, Director
Two Bell Tree Processionals by Louise Frier (Reenactment of 1995 Original Performance)
Janice W. White, Bell Tree & Denise W. Huewitt, flute
Mrs. Cynthia Terry, Director Emerita
Blessed Assurance (With “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring”) arr. By Cynthia Dobrinski
Let There Be Peace on Earth arr. By Cynthia Dobrinsk
Dr. Shalewa Thrash, Vocalist & Chelsi Lester, EBC Dance and Mime Ministry, Artistic Director
Praise to the Lord Almighty arr. By Kevin McChesney
Special Presentation
Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock
Remarks
Dr. Angela Farris Watkins – The Christine King Farris Legacy Foundation (daughterofDr.ChristineKingFarris)
The Offertory Appeal
Reverend Timothy McDonald, Pastor First Iconium Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
Presentations
Dottie Peoples
Gospel Recording Artist
The Atlanta Chapter - Gospel Music Workshop of America (GWMA) Mass Choir
Minister Reginal Jefferson, Director
Please Be Patient With Me
Arr. by James Cleveland
I Know The Man
Arr. by James Cleveland
Minister Bradley Webb, Soloist
The Christine King Farris Memorial Choir Lanvester Jackson, Artistic Director
Show Me The Way – (John P. Kee)
Soloist: Kenneth Lowe
“I will instruct you and teach thee in the way which you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8 (NKJV)
Order My Steps – (Glenn Burleigh)
Soloist: Jacqueline Lott Jackson
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
Psalm 119:133 (KJV)
Oh, How Precious – (Myrna Summers)
Soloist: Lydia Pace
“Oh Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all of the earth…” Psalm 8 (KJV)
Piano Tribute to Alberta Williams King Jarvis Wilson
Benediction
***Reception following the concert in the Roberts Fellowship Hall***
Members of the Christine King Farris Memorial Choir
Lanvester Jackson, Artistic Director
Phyllis Adams
Rosalyn Barnes
Jane Benjamin Bonner
Sharaledon D. Brave
Cristel Camp
Tereon Cockfield
Angela Dixon
Carolyn Evans
Joseph Gardner
Cassandra Griffin
Ada Lunceford Hamilton
Gail Brown Hollin
Gloria Jackson
Anita Johnson
Sherri Reed Jordan
Tamika Kelly
Sharon D. Lee
Kenneth Lowe
Jacqueline Martin
Barbara N. Miller
Alyson Morrissette
Lydia Pace
Judi Rodgers
Kimberly Riley Smallwood
Linda Smith
Lydia Raglin Thomas
Shalewa Thrash
Tracey Victor
Tuwanna Whatley
Rita Wright
Marigny L. Young
Dorothy L. Ashley
Herschelle Adams Barrios
Vivian Bradford
Frank Brown
Cynthia Carmichael
Kelli Collins
Brenda C. Evans
Patrice K. Faison
Juanita Gibbons-Delaney
Cathy Griffin
Patricia Hamock
Celita Hudson
Jacqueline Lott Jackson
Susie Johnson
Sandy Kangas
Zina A. Knight
Untra Lindsey
Alice Henderson Malloy
Camille McDonald
Conrad Moore
Angela V. Murphy
Peggy Parker
Angela V. Russell
Gavert Smith
Yvonne Smith
William Thornton
Donna Turner
Timothy Wallace
Laveda Williams
Dana Wynn
Musicians
William Hunter – Organ
Carmel Brown – Piano
Warren Lankford – Piano
Kenneth Amos – Bass Guitar
Lucretia Doyle – Drums
Members of the Christine King Farris Handbell Choir
Denise Willingham-Huewitt, Director
Katrina Farrow
Mary Hughes
Imani Mathis
Amber Murray
Candora Seay
Leon Thompson
Janice Willingham White
Carita Willingham Harvey
Sherri Reed Jordan
Alyson Morrissette
Francene Riley
Sabrina Simmons
Lois Tunstall
Ebenezer Praise Team
Dr. Patrice E. Turner, Director
Chanel Austin
Shawn Brooks
Tasheera Dupree
Patrice K. Faison
Susie Johnson
Alyson Morrissette
Kennetta Renee Robertson
Musicians
Kris Goodall, Piano
Justice Michael, Drums
Michele Barnes
Kelli Collins
Carolyn Evans
Joseph Gardner
Camille McDonald
Carol Osner
Melva Williams
Cori Stevenson, Hammond Organ
Jeremy Thompson, Bass
Special Thanks
Tameka Bell
Lisa A. Brinson
Barbara Brown
Joseph Gardner
Gail Hollin
Deacon Jacqueline Lott Jackson
Marsha Sampson Johnson
Deaconess Connie Smith - Lindsey
Rev. Timothy McDonald and First Iconium Church
Cassi Davis-Patton
Dottie Peoples
Lydia Raglin Thomas
Dr. Patrice E. Turner
Rev. Dr. John H. Vaughn
Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock and Ebenezer Baptist Church
Tamika Patton-Watkins
The Atlanta Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America
The Ebenezer Ambassadors
The Marie Hunter Usher Board
The K Effect, Design & Printing
A FUNDRAISER BENEFITING SCHOLARSHIPS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
DONATIONS ACCEPTED
