LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An iconic Louisville pastor and civil rights leader celebrated a milestone.

Rev. Charles Elliott Jr. turned 90 Saturday, Aug. 17.

“I feel good, and it’s such a blessing to have you all to share with the community of a life that the lord allowed me to live,” he said. 

The King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, where he has been a pastor for 63 years, threw him a party he said he'll never forget.

“It was awesome," he said. "I've had many in my life, but I’ve never had one like this, and I just want to thank all of you who have been so kind to me, praying that God will bless us all to work together." 

Elliott spent much of his life helping people in poverty and bridging the racial divide. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

“He said, ‘Reverend, one of these days that we will not be marching and protesting for our rights as Black people, but we all will walk together and little white and Black children will hold hands together,’” Elliott said.

More than 60 years later, Elliott said, King's work has paid off, with people often getting judged by their character and not the color of their skin. 

“I thank god for allowing me to live to see that happen,” Elliott said.

The church took time Saturday morning to appreciate his work as a civil rights leader, pastor, father and teacher.

“A lot of his colleagues are not here," said Rev. Wanda Mcintyre of the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church. "Our pastor is still living, and with every breath that we all have, we want to tell him, 'Thank you.'" 

During his near century worth of work, Elliott said, there is a message that bears repeating.

“Together, we stand; divided, we fall,” he said.

Elliott was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2012.