The Truth Staff
The Top Ladies of Distinction held their annual prayer breakfast on Saturday, January 27, at the Heatherdowns Country Club with the theme of “Celebrating Our Legacy, Transforming Lives and Making a Difference, One Teen, One Lady, One Community at a Time.”
The banquet room at Heatherdowns was awash in pink – pink attire for the Top Ladies, pink décor, pink ornaments and the program was reflective of and emphasized the mission and programs of the club: Sickle Cell, Literacy, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).
Saturday’s program began with a welcome by Lady Mary McKinley-Reed, chapter president, and by Teen Latrice Parmer, the local Top Teens of America president.
The Ladies brought together a number of individuals who are part of the chapter’s Programs, Projects and Partnerships.
LaShardae Scott, CEO/president of the Scott Center for Observation, Treatment and Transition and the Sickle Cell Director for the Neighborhood Health Sickle Cell Project of Northwest Ohio spoke of her program.
Scott is a supporter of those with sickle cell disease because she is, in fact, the mother of two children with the disease. Her goal is to ease the transition from pediatric to adult treatment though educating individuals and families.
The chapter’s Literacy program was represented by guest authors Terri Cook and Iva Brassfield. Cook is one of the authors of a recently released work entitled, The Audacity To Phenomenally Become Her! Volume II It’s Not Personal – It’s Business!
Terrie Cook’s chapter is entitled, ‘Trust God, Stay the Course,’ and she hopes to inspire readers.
Brassfield is the author of Yucky Dialog, which explores the trauma she experienced as a teenager.
Deborah Gardner sang the opening number, accompanied by pianist Mike Odoms.
Also part of the Programs, Projects and Partnerships presentation was Rev. Willie Perryman, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Toledo Chapter NAACP. Perryman spoke of the history of the civil rights organization and the chapter’s goals and objectives for the future.
After breakfast was served, Valerie Walston, special advisor to the University of Toledo President for Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, the keynote speaker addressed the guests. Reflecting the theme of the event, Walston spoke of the importance of “transforming lives.”
Walston noted that “transforming lives is more than just a conversation … it’s the action we need to undertake to change the community.”
Lady Wanda Terrell-Galloway serves as the chapter’s president; Lady Clara Petty as First Vice President Program Chair and Top Teen Advisor; Lady Denise Black-Poon as Second Vice President, Project Chair and Prayer Breakfast Co-Chair; Lady Mary McKinley-Reed as Director of Operations and Recording Secretary, Teen Latrice Parmer as Top Teens President.
Lady Ann C. Battles is the Organizer; Lady Barbara Tucker is Financial Secretary; Lady Pamela Effinger is the Treasurer and the other members are Lady Denise Cardwell, Lady Pamela Effinger, Lady Rachel Ridley, Lady Clara Brank (Chaplain), Lady Delores Anderson (Sergeant at Arms), Lady Delores (Dee) Bates (Historian & Membership), Lady Madelyn Standard, Lady Shontrell Flanagan, Lady Jacqueline Jackson, Lady Dianne Johnson, Lady Bulista Kimbrough, Lady Marcia Quinn and Lady Sandy Strong.
The chapters Top Teens are Latrice Parmer, Tenaisha Parmer, Amaya Martin, Mikayla Evans Raina Terrell, Christopher Price, Colton Robert Damien Way, Anthony Price and Jarrell Terrell, Jr.
Top Ladies of Distinction have five National Thrusts: Top Teens of America, status of Women, senior citizens, community beautification, and community partnerships. The five national projects: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Council of Negro Women, United Negro College Fund, literacy, and sickle cell disease awareness.
