The Capital City Democratic Women’s Club held its 1st Annual Tea for Women of Service at the Tallahassee Center in Kleman Plaza. The tea honored women whose husbands are elected officials as well as women who are elected officials themselves.

Shirley Thompson presided over the Sunday afternoon program of which only women in hats attended. After introducing the executive officers of the club, Thompson introduced the special women of service, which included Jane Marks, wife of Mayor John Marks; Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, state representative of District 9; Georgia “Joy” Bowen, school board member; Delores Lawson, wife of State Senator Al Lawson; Georjean Machules, wife of County Commissioner Cliff Thaell and Esther Moring, wife of County Commissioner Bob Rackleff.

Each of the honorees received a special gift. Among the gifts given were a string of pearls that belonged to First Lady Michelle Obama to Marks, a purse to Lawson, a crystal slipper to Moring and a tea light to Bowen.

Entertainment for the afternoon was provided by The Mary Roberts Orchestra of The Javacya Arts Conservatory, one of the club’s scholarship recipients. Many of the attendees won door prizes, and everyone enjoyed the tea service.

Everyone knew each other; so, everyone was considered family. Most have left the neighborhood; thus, a reunion brought the family together. Most of the day was spent reconnecting with former neighbors and eating. Queen Bruton, as president, presided over the program.

Several of the former neighbors led a segment of the program, entitled “Do You Remember?” Among the neighborhood spots remembered were Henry’s Store, Crump’s Store, Mobley’s Beauty Parlor, Dupont’s Meat Market, Jiles’ Shoe Shop, Peppermint Patio, Savoy Club and Hotel, and the Fountainette.

Dennis Jefferson recognized the oldest attendee, Mattie Mobley, and those who traveled the farthest. Pinky Felder, Bertha Ross and Doris Stephens came from Miami. He also recognized Commissioner Akin Akinyemi.

Other program participants were Father Laughton Thomas of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church; Betty Pittman, neighborhood president; Mary Avent, Ronald Henry, Bertha Ross, Mattie Mobley and Wayne Brown. The group worshiped together at Gethsemane M. B. Church the next day.

RICARDO LEWIS
Associate Editor

In 43 years of marriage, there are two things that Charles and Barbara Wright continue to do; the first is going to church together and the second is laugh.

“We were in college when we met,” said Charles, a retired educator and civil engineer. She was introduced to me by my brother. We were just clowning around and just friends at first, but then we got to laughing and talking. So one day I saw her in church, and I said ‘Hmmm this girl goes to church.’ I thought I may want to keep this one for myself.”

Barbara remembered what her mother had told her before she began going to Savannah State College where she met Charles. “My mother always said if they don’t have any God in their life, then you leave them where they are,” Barbara said. Charles and Barbara courted for three years before they finally got married. On June 10, 1967 the couple vowed to love each other happily ever after. They both are proud to say so far so good.

“I love him,” Barbara said. “I love being around him; we enjoy each other, and we are not afraid to let everyone know that we love each other.” Charles who is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., remembers the day he met Barbara. “Back then we had fraternity pins, and if you liked a girl you gave her your fraternity pin to wear. I remember when I first saw her, it was the beginning of the year, and she had a pin on. I was like man who has given this freshman a fraternity pin already?”

Charles went on to explain that he saw a lot more in Barbara as they became friends and soon began to date. “She was a nice girl; she was always playing with children, so I assumed she loved kids; she was thrifty in her finances but very sharing and giving; you know-she had that certain glow, and she had a little shape on her.”

Barbara recalled what she saw in Charles that led to her attraction. “He was clean-cut, he kept himself nice and neat, and he kept his shoes shined,” Barbara recalled, “and he still does those things to this day.” The Wrights, who have three adult children, believe that family is one of the most important aspects of marriage.

For three years the Wrights stayed in Africa as a part of the South-East Consortium for International Development. There they feel they grew closer as a family and learned the importance of each other. “In Africa all we had was each other, just us and the kids,” said Barbara. We spent a lot of time laughing, talking and playing games.”

Forty-three years of marriage did not come easily, agreed Charles and Barbara. They both felt that being married is “no bed of roses.” The Wrights attribute their success to being able to pray and communicate with each other. “I am not talking about the kind of praying where she is on her side of the bed, and I am on mine,” said Charles. “I am talking about praying out loud where she hears what I ask the Lord for, and I hear what she is asking for.” Good in-laws is another reason the couple see as a part of their 43- year success story.

“My family loves him, and I think his family loves me,” Barbara said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I remember when my mom had a stroke and my dad had to move in with us. He accepted my father being there and made him feel welcomed,” she sobbed slightly. “He made it a part of his routine to go and see my mother. I would not even know he was coming; I would be sitting in her room and he would walk in.”

Charles explained his philosophy of marriage like this:“There are six people who get married that day. The first two are of course the people who are standing at the altar. The next two are the person he thinks she is and the person she thinks he is. The last two and probably the most important are the person he can be with her, and the person she can be with him.”

The room had been decorated in purple and white to denote royalty. Maggie Duval presided over a short, informal program and gave an inspirational message, “What Is a Mother?” She explained, “Mothers plant seeds of love in the hearts of their children and nurture them as they grow.”

Several members of the group honored her with loving words; others made presentations that were pinned on her. All celebrated the life of a woman who has been in the vineyard a long time. Mary Jenkins, the daughter of Lawrence, thanked everyone for coming to celebrate this milestone with her mother, who had just buried a son earlier that day.

Other program participants included Kim Floyd, Angela Allen, Minister Everett Allen, and the Rev. George Proctor Jr., her pastor at Gethsemane M. B. Church.

More than 75 gentlemen of the community exhibited their favorite dishes for all to taste and compare. Even the most finicky eaters satisfied their appetites. There were fancy drinks as well as regular drinks, all non-alcoholic.

There were all kinds of meat dishes, including several kinds of barbeque. Seafood dishes, vegetable dishes and rice dishes were all spread around the gymnasium. Deserts could not be omitted; there were cakes, pies and even banana pudding and blackberry dooby.

Those who attended left with full stomachs and content minds. Those who did not attend should make plans to attend next year. Proceeds from the event support scholarships and other community projects of the organization.

The Ways and Means Committee of Delta Kappa Omega, under the leadership of Vernea Randolph, spearheaded the activity. Darice Richard is president of the foundation.

Ronald Gaines presid­ed over the banquet, which featured several speakers who took a “look back” at earlier days. Among those speaking were Emma Wil­liams, Barbara Hobbs, Edith Ward and Leola Lee. All remembered landmarks of the community as Grif­fin High School, Lincoln High School and Dade Street Community Center. Fred Lee provided music for dinner. Other program participants were Ronnie Barron, Eddie Graham and Marie Spencer, president.

A fish fry/picnic was held at the Gregory-Law­rence Community Center on Saturday, where old ac­quaintances continued to be renewed.

The activities con­cluded with church service at Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church where El­der Kenton Floyd was the speaker and Thomas Mitchell presided. The ser­vices were followed by din­ner in the fellowship hall.

Most of the partici­pants were local; however, some came from other parts of the state and country. Those who travelled the farthest were recognized – Lola B. Lee from San Bernadina, California; Ego Hayes and Vernice Graham Brown from Bronx, New York; and Ann Conway-Hailstock from Greenville, South Carolina. The oldest participant, Mary Bonner (94), was also recognized.

Blackshear, a native of Tallahassee, who was the first African-American woman to open a private practice as a pediatrician in Tallahassee, received the Delta Economic Lifetime Township Achievement (D.E.L.T.A.) Award for her service and dedication to the community.

The scholarship recipients were: Ashley Augustine, Joshua Berrian, Bria Young, Yaineli Valdes, and Melanese Edwards, Godby High School; Dezondria Broxsie, Florida High School; Asjah Cummings, Lincoln High School; Alice Daramola, T’keyah Gadson, Jynelle Jarvis, Danielle Manning and Jasmine Holmes, Rickards High School; Alexys James, Maclay High School; and Tashi Martin, FAMU High School.

Kelly Bailey, North Florida State Coordinator and Delta Success Trust Foundation chair, presided over the program. Stephanie Green, May Week co-chair, introduced the EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities in Developing Independence) Program, an innovative program for young men that will begin in the fall.

Other program participants were Terrial Brown, chapter president; Carla Adams, first vice president; Pamela Coleman, Scholarship and Awards chair; Andria Rollinson, May Week Committee member and Kiosha Forston, May Week Committee chair. Other members of the Scholarship and Awards Committee are Terraca Jones, co-chair, Patricia Clem, Kiosha Forston, Gloria Holmes, Akia Laurent, Delores Lawson, Veta Mobley Johnson, Karen Rose, Devora Simmons and Audrey Smith.

The group believes, “We are our brothers’ keepers.” This, to them, was their answering a call to service. As a result, they fed over 120 people in the Frenchtown area.

Faye Brown is Worthy Counselor and Ephraim Bryant is Chancellor Commander.

Each year a well known celebrity is featured at the gala as an extra incentive for the community to support it. Screen star Morris Chestnut was the drawing card this year. He posed for pictures with those who attended the reception before the gala and assisted in the presentation of awards during the program.

Shaun Laurie, a local physician, was awarded the Servants Heart Award by Chestnut and Denise Johnson, one of his patients. William “Bill” Law, president of Tallahassee Community College, received the Crescent Moon Community Trailblazer Salute from the Martins and winner of the Sickle Cell-o-bration Song Writing Contest, Brianna Nelson.

Jackie Safford, who battles with the disease, received the Courage Award from Chestnut, Pastor Helen Barrington, a winner of the Courage award, and her husband Pastor Kenneth Barrington. Velma Stevens, executive director of the Sickle Cell Foundation, made a special presentation to Daisy Lanier for Homer Lanier, a member of the Sickle Cell Foundation Board.

WCTV News anchor, Shonda Knight, served as mistress of ceremonies. Honorary chairpersons for the event were Judge Nina Ashenafi and her husband, Curtis Richardson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives.

After the invocation was given by Pastor Terry Price of Philadelphia P. B. Church, a memorial tribute in dance was presented by Nicholas Martin, who received a standing ovation, and dinner entertainment was provided by Steve Fryson and the Community Jazz Ensemble and The Crescent Moon Heartbeats. Other entertainment came from Anthony Williams who sang to the honorees.

A special donation of $3,000 was made to the foundation by representatives of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Tallahassee.

The 48th annual Beasley-Sissle birthday bash (that is Steve Beasley and Noble Sissle) was held at Hotel Duval’s Rooftop Ballroom. A pre-party reception was held prior to the celebration.

Sissle surprised Beasley with a creative dance to add spice to the entertainment. The Truality Band and Show of Tampa, Fla., provided entertainment for the other part of the evening.

The duo met in college and became lifelong friends. They began celebrating their birthdays together since they have birthdays that are close, sometimes in Tallahassee and other times elsewhere. Each guest received a souvenir T-shirt to remember the celebration.