The Middlebrook Legacy: We Celebrate Black History
Legacy Award honoree, civil rights activist, friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ordained minister, community leader and loving father—all titles rightfully attributed to the Reverend Harold Middlebrook.
While Middlebrook has called Knoxville home since 1977, he was actually born in Memphis in 1942, he attended Morehouse College and Lemoyne-Owen College, and was ordained a minister in 1966.
More than 10 years after his ordination, he moved to Knoxville to pastor at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
In the last 4 decades, he has continued his life of service in East Tennessee, including being the founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Commission of Greater Knoxville.
“Whatever God has given to us, it is our responsibility to share it,” Reverend Middlebrook said. “Each of our children, in their own way, make a contribution to make life better for others.”
Two of Middlebrook’s 3 children do just that as City of Knoxville employees. His oldest daughter, Sherry Bennett, works for Public Service. His youngest child, LaKenya, oversees the City’s first-ever Office of Community Safety.
Reverend and LaKenya Middlebrook sit down to share some of their stories as the City of Knoxville celebrates Black History.