BLOOMINGTON - People attending the gospel fest honoring Martin Luther King Jr. were treated to a first Monday at Illinois Wesleyan University - "The Mrs. Sims Unity Choir."

In a fitting tribute to the memory of the late Corine G. Sims, founder of the festival and a driving force behind the fellowship dinner, every choir that performed was invited to assemble at the end for the closing hymn "Precious Lord," which was her favorite, said Carl Teichman, IWU director of government and community relations.

"This is a first," said Teichmann.

The 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Festival was a double tribute this year to the slain civil rights leader and to Sims, who died at age 78 at her Bloomington home in August.

Her memory was on people's minds and in their hearts during the day. It was a time of gladness, sadness and reflection for family and friends, as well as those who never met her but admired her accomplishments.

"As her daughter, what an honor, what a privilege to have a mother like that," said Barbara Malone, who said she would carry on her legacy. "It's in me. I've been taught this all my life."

For Sims' husband, the Rev. James E. Sims Sr., Monday served as a time for reminiscing.

"My wife - I tried to get her not to leave me - but she just smiled and went," he said.

The Rev. Sims is president of the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal Mass Choir - which his late wife also founded. The gospel singers and Wesleyan co-sponsored the event.

IWU president Richard Wilson credited Corine Sims with making the festival and fellowship dinner a lasting tribute to King.

"Mrs. Sims created her own legacy that will keep her memory and Dr. King's dream alive here in Bloomington-Normal for generations to come," Wilson said.

The brief tributes were interspersed with longer segments of music, dancing, and singing, such as "Open the floodgates of heaven-let it rain, let it rain, let it rain."

"I feel this tingle inside," said audience member Kimberly Taylor of Bloomington.

She was glad to be there to honor King as well as Corine Sims.

"She's passed, but it's great her family is keeping it going - they're not going to let it stop," Taylor said. Her sons, Jevante 12, and Lavarrius, 9, sang in the program.

Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton said someday he'd like not to have those "Racism - Not In Our Town" signs around town because everybody would understand, so there would be no need for them.

'A heart for people'

"We thank God for Mother Sims - if she hadn't moved forward, we wouldn't be enjoying this gospel festival," said the Rev. Frank McSwain of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

"She had a heart for people," said McSwain."Her intent was for everybody to have a level playing field."

And that sounds like what Martin Luther King wanted too.