Mayor Gulley, Bessemer Firemen, Mr. Mykee Jackson and other fathers pose together during recent program
This past week, many of Bessemer’s fathers were celebrated by citizens throughout the city during several Father’s Day events.
The festivities began with a heartfelt ceremony at the Kenneth E. Gulley Rec Center, where Bessemer’s Silver Boomers and Mr. Robert Portis and the Fantastic Silver Boomers’ Choir helped lead the celebration. Fathers were honored with catered meals, fellowship, praise dancing, music, and words of appreciation from members of the Bessemer community.
Members of the Bessemer Fire and Police Departments were present, along with Mayor Kenneth Gulley, who shared warm words and smiles with the audience. State representatives and Jefferson County spokeswomen Sherry McClain and Lynneice Washington also joined in celebrating and honoring the fathers.
Save the Youth founder and rocket scientist Dr. Eugene Edwards attended the event and shared a song, “Falling In Love With Jesus,” along with words of encouragement. He spoke about his mentorship program and the importance of helping young people develop interests beyond athletics.
“Through my mentorship program we’re seeking to help kids within Bessemer become thinkers and to get them interested in things such as science, not just sports. Our children today lack father figures, so we’re initializing ideas beyond just athletics,” Edwards said.
Longtime Bessemer firefighter Lieutenant Robert D. Horn served as the speaker for the day, focusing on the importance of fatherhood and the connection between being a father and knowing God as a Heavenly Father.
“I tell kids and people in general all the time that we must be in the world and not of the world. The world is set to kill, steal and destroy. One thing we must understand is that we’ll never come into our true authority as kings and queens until we completely learn to follow our Creator, God, and be true men and women of His. We must let our children know, especially as men, that they need to build a lifelong foundation around God,” Horn said.
The theme of the celebration came from Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those that fear Him.”
The day recognized fathers and men who are often overlooked and underappreciated but have made lasting impacts on the lives of others.
Ms. Makeda Smith, Gulley Rec Center director, emphasized the importance of the center’s role in the community.
“We’re doing more work within the walls of our rec center than realized. Yet one thing I know is, with the help of the brilliant and exceptional men in this room, we also want to reach our children, especially our young males beyond the walls of the rec center,” Smith said.
Organizers thanked Bessemer’s Silver Boomers Group, city officials and workers, firefighters, Mayor Gulley, and the Gulley Rec Center staff for helping recognize the importance of fathers and the men who have helped shape the community.
The celebration honored the importance of fatherhood and encouraged continued support for families throughout Bessemer.