Tamara Browning Staff Writer @tambrowningSJR

The 24th annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday at Comer Cox Park represented a new era in planning that the former hosts hope takes it through many years.

Shawn Gregory, 33, took over organizing this years event, which runs through Sunday, after learning in April that Mike and Doris Williams of the nonprofit One in a Million were stepping away after 23 years of hosting it.

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

I want to take the time to thank Mike and Doris Williams for 23 years. When I received an email that they werent going to be doing this, I took about 5-10 minutes. I probably should have taken longer, knowing how much work that they put into this, said Gregory, who ran the basketball portion of Juneteenth for the past three years.

I can only dream of trying to do this 23 years. Im definitely going to try my best, but theres so many parts of this that has to be done. To do it for 23 years is amazing.

Saturdays Juneteenth Celebration included a dunk tank, bounce house, music and informational tables from such groups as Faith Coalition for the Common Good and Central Counties Health Centers.

The celebration began with a parade that proceeded north on Martin Luther King Drive to Comer Cox Park.

Maurice Renfro, a member of American Legion Post 809, located at 1800 E. Capitol Ave., was among those watching the parade.

We were inside. We come here early every morning. We knew the parade was coming, so we came outside to watch it, Renfro said. Its decent. Its nice. Everybodys conducting themselves well.

Pray, keep going

Concerns about safety due to a rash of shootings last month, including one at Comer Cox Park, resulted in extra security during Juneteenth.

Andre Booker III, 19, was shot and killed while playing basketball May 31 at the park. A Sangamon County grand jury indicted four Springfield men on first-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting.

Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder, who walked in the parade, said afterward that he appreciated everybody working to make Springfield the best it can be.

Juneteenth is all about freedom, and with violence going on, if people are afraid to come out of their houses, theres not freedom, Langfelder said. Were working with the community to make sure that everybody has a safe place to live that theyd like to thrive and grow up in.

Parade participant Patricia Johnson, 53, grew up on 16th Street, and her mother still lives on South 16th Street. Participating in Juneteenth as an employee of City Water, Light and Power, Johnson said previous violence at Comer Cox Park didnt deter their participation in the celebration.

The DFG -- Diversity Focus Group -- we participate every year. This is our fourth year, said Johnson, who pointed out the table where people received information on CWLP and issues such as how to be safe around electricity. We just come out and try to have a good time in the community.

Johnson said regarding the recent shootings in Springfield, We just have to pray and keep going.

Sometimes things are just random, and I dont think its intentional. Its what you do outside of where you live is what happens. It brings something back in the community, Johnson said.

Its the life that you live. Its choices that you make, and then theres good and bad choices. If you come and do what youre supposed to do, and youre not starting trouble, looking for trouble, I think things will be OK. Maybe Im nave. I dont know, but I havent had any problems.

Parade participants Aaron Pearl, 48, and Annie Brooks, 47, agreed that people need to support Gregory in presenting the Juneteenth event, getting help from all organizations.

This is our way of giving back to the community because I grew up over on this side of town, said Pearl, who is chairman of the Diversity Focus Group for Public Works, City of Springfield.

Why I wanted to do it is because, this year, we (Public Works) adopted three classrooms and gave out school supplies, school clothes to three classrooms (two at Matheny-Withrow Elementary School and one at Washington Middle School), and were going to do the same thing next year.

Pearl said that with all the violence that has been happening in Springfield this is our time to come together, and for everybody to heal.

Juneteenth will continue from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday with a theme of Soulful Sunday. It will feature gospel and jazz artists.

-- Contact Tamara Browning: tamara.browning@sj-r.com, 788-1534, twitter.com/tambrowningSJR.

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Celebrate freedom: New organizer takes reins of Juneteenth - The State Journal-Register