06-02-2025
Legacy Keepers honor veterans, leaders, youth
Muskogee High graduate Donald Reaves said it's been 'a good journey,' going from Summit through 28 years in the armed forces.
'Who'd ever think a boy from Summit, Oklahoma, would grow up to be anything,' Reaves said upon receiving the Veteran of the Year award at Saturday's Legacy Keepers R Us bruncheon.
The event, held at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, honored 26 people, plus the Tullahassee Wildcats Foundation. It included a light continental breakfast and lunch.
Reaves, now an Oklahoma City resident, said 'there are so many people who went on this journey with me.'
'I never went into the military to get awards and accolades,' he said. 'At the time I went in, there were few opportunities for me to get a job in Muskogee. I had to find my way. I didn't want to go to college so I went into the military. Twenty-eight years and one day later, I got out.'
Reaves spent four years in the U.S. Air Force and 24 years in the U.S. Army reserve. Dennis Wilhite, who presented the award, said Reaves retired from the military in 2004 and from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 2015.
Awards were presented to Legends with a long record of community service, Legacy Keepers currently serving the community and Pacesetters and youth who could continue serving the community.
Former Muskogee County Commissioner Dexter Payne and his son, current County Commissioner Kenny Payne received two awards.
Dexter Payne, presented with a Legends Award, said he appreciates 'the fact that someone thinks I did a good job.'
Kenny Payne, presented with a Legacy Keepers Award, said 'the community has invested a lot in me and my family, and we try to give back by investing in our community.'
'There's been a lot of people who helped my dad along the way and a lot of people who helped me along the way,' the younger Payne said. ' and I consider it as much an honor them as it is for us.'
Rhonda Grayson and the Doug Good family were honored for seeking to restore and preserve historic Black cemeteries. Awards also were presented honoring people who have died.
Historian and event coordinator ShironButterfly said Legacy Keepers seeks to share stories. She compared the project to the PBS program 'Finding Your Roots,' in which guests have their family lineage traced. Ray said the show sometimes has surprises.
'You find out who you thought were your relatives aren't really your relatives,' Ray said. 'Some people shy away from studying, 'I wanted to know and I was told stop being sassy. My motto is, 'let's dig to the truth. Who IS your daddy? Who's your daddy's daddy?''
Ray said Legacy Keepers has inducted more than 200 people since the ceremonies began nine years ago.
'The youngest was 9, the eldest was 103,' Ray said.
She said 103-year-old Bernice Walker was grand marshal of the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade 10 days before she died.
Ray said Walker's passing reminds her how important it is to honor someone before it's too late.
'Sometimes we put off for tomorrow what we should have done today,' Ray said. 'Sometimes it's too late to say I love you, too late to say I'm sorry, too late to say let's make up. I say don't hesitate. Do it now.'
