The 56th Annual Debutante Cotillion Mother-Daughter Luncheon

Debs (standing): Reagan Quinn, Taylor Scribner, Rakaiya Phillips, Courtney Marie Jones, Taliyah Neely
Mothers and guardians (seated): Roxanne Quinn, Kimberly Scribner, Rhonda Phillips, Linda Smith, Crystal M. Jones, Malinda Estby, Trudie Neely, Bryanna Neely

The Truth Staff

It’s back!!

After a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Debutante Cotillion, sponsored by the NANBPWC, Inc Toledo Club, has returned. Last Saturday, May 4, the 56^th Annual event continued with the customary Mother-Daughter Luncheon at the Inverness Country Club.

Karen Jarrett, Cotillion cochariman, served as the mistress of ceremonies for the luncheon. The welcome for this year’s five debutantes and their mothers or guardians was given by Toledo Club President Tyra Smith. Smith introduced the North Central District Governor Denise Black Poon and the attending Club members.

Club Chaplain Tommie Lee McGhee offered the invocation.

The luncheon offered members an opportunity to continue the restart of a tradition that included 54 Cotillions through May 2019. The 55^th Cotillion was cancelled when the pandemic broke out in early 2020.

(Seated): Mironda Harris, Deborah Carlisle, Talent Co-Chair; Beverly Tucker, Talent Co-Chair; Tyra Smith, Chapter President; Denise Black Poon, Governor; Barbara Tucker, Financial Secretary and Parliamentarian; Denise Cardwell, Co-Chairman
(Standing): Ethel Scott; Tommie McGhee, Chaplain; Wilma Brown, Cotillion Chair; BJ Tucker; Karen Jarrett, Co-Chair

After lunch was served on Saturday, Denise Cardwell, Etiquette chairman, read a poem and explained the purpose of the Mother-Daughter Luncheon – after which the debutantes and mothers were introduced.

Deborah Carlisle and Beverly Tucker, Talent co-chairmen, and Karen Jarrett and Denise Cardwell, Cotillion co-chairmen, conducted a question and answer session.

Wilma Brown, Cotillion general chairman, was also present at the luncheon. Brown has helped to guide the Cotillion since it began almost 60 years ago.

The next event in the process is the Talent Contest in which the debutantes are invited to show-case their talents in front of a live audience. Talents on display typically include singing, dancing – including ballet and modern dancing, spoken word, performance on musical instruments and more.

This year, for the first time in the history of the organization, there is a Golden Sponsor for the Cotillion. The Taylor Automotive has agreed to be that Sponsor and will present the top three performances of the Talent Contest with cash awards.