ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the Ebenezer Baptist Church shooting.

The tragedy claimed the lives of Alberta Williams King, the mother of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Deacon Edward A. Boykin.

The church held an event entitled “Faith Over Fear, Love Over Hate” honoring the lives lost and the churches continued
legacy.

Deacon Phillip Finch, a long-time church member was there.

“At a moment during the worship service when everyone’s head was bowed, and eyes were closed, us singing the Lord’s Prayer was when this horrific event occurred,” Finch said.

On June 30, 1974, a gunman entered the sanctuary of the church and opened fire.

King and Boykin were shot and killed. Jimmie Mitchell, a member of the church, was also shot but survived.

Marcus Wayne Chenault, 21, was arrested and charged. Chenault was convicted and sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He died in 1995.

A panel of survivors including members of the King family shared memories of the horrific day.

“He was up at that pew and his first movement down to Ms. King and he fired,” said long-time Ebenezer church member Jackson Smith.

Each panelist highlighted how Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. continued to deliver sermons focused on faith, forgiveness, and love.

“He would also say thank God for what you have left,” said Dr. Angela Ferris Watkins, granddaughter of Alberta King.

Finch says those messages are what have kept the church standing through the darkest of times.

“Even the midst of all that, we have been fortunate to have leaders in our church who have been out front with us making sure we have our faith over our fears we embraced,” he said.