By C. Ron Allen
At 2, little Malachi enjoyed playing drums. He would tap on the drums at his church after service on Sundays and at home, he often improvised – whether on the table or on whatever he found.
So much was his love for drums that his dad bought him a drum set.
“My baby enjoyed music. He loved to sing, play the drums, the piano, and the guitar,” Montre Bennett shared with me recently. “He was very active at school and
he loved to make people happy.”
So it was only appropriate that Mr. Bennett give him a home-going on Saturday befitting of an aspiring drum-major. Master Malachi was tragically struck and killed last week as he rushed into the street to greet his father.
Upon learning that, I reached out to my contacts and called a few musicians who once played in bands. Some said they were too rusty or too old to walk from the church to the cemetery but offered to help me search for participants.
Delray Beach Police assistant Chief Jeffrey Goldman said they would be happy to provide officers as traffic escorts.
But it was Village Academy’s principal Guarn Sims and Ms. Shirley Bryant from the Achievement Center for Children who saved the day.
Just when I thought we were about to strike out in finding a drum corps, Mr. Sims said although his band was in the infancy stage, some members would participate.
“We would love to be a part of this,” Ms. Bryant said. “Let me make some calls … our kids would love to do this.”
I am not surprised by the level of support from the residents of Delray Beach. I am however moved by their compassion.
The last time I say anything like this was some 12 years ago at a Jazz funeral in New Orleans. Jazz funerals are traditional funerals with music. They typically begin with a march of family, friends and a brass band. The music is normally somber at the beginning of the march and once the ending is near and friends say their final goodbyes, the music becomes more upbeat.
While Saturday may not rise to the level of a Jazz funeral, I am sure Malachi would be proud of his final procession from this earthly life.
Thanks to Samaritans like Ms. Bryant, Mr. Sims and Chief Goldman, Saturday’s will be as Mr. Bennett wanted: a celebration of Malachi’s life, not a time of mourning.
Kudos to four budding actors who did a stellar performance in a Black History Month play at Mt. Olive Baptist Church recently. Their acting skills and passion spoke volumes about their commitment to the craft and discipline. The directors Christine “LeShay” Ferguson, who also wrote the play, “What you Don’t Know, Won’t Hurt You,” and Fredrina Combs also deserve special recognition. Congrats on a job well done.
Thanks to all for your emails and letters this week on my stance on gun control. As usual, you are welcome to join me on Thursdays for Lunch with the Editor. Call or email me anytime.
Finally, remember to tune your radios to AM 740 each weekday from 7 to 8 a.m. for the Good News Show with my dear friend George DeMartino. It is so refreshing to start your day with a dose of positive, uplifting news from around town and afar.