An Evening of Beauty in Fashion and Songs

Labor Day. Baseball season turning into football season. First day of school. All of these events are reasons to wave goodbye to summer and welcome autumn with its cooler temperatures. On , August 22, 2010, Back-to-School Eve, at 4:00 pm, the Usher Ministry of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Miami, Inc., (the oldest African-American church in Miami Dade County) located at 3515 Douglas Road, Coconut Grove, Florida presented its 4^th Annual Fashion show, “A Fashion Show for Everyone and All Occasions”.

This year’s theme was, “Beauty in Fashion and Songs”. Contributing to the “songs” part of the evening were Fredericka Glenton, a gifted musician from Macedonia Missionary Baptist church, who played the organ. Revered Rudolph Daniels, Pastor, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Miami, Inc. provided a stirring rendition of “A Change is Gonna’ Come” and Frankie Wilcox, who sang from the audience, “Take All of Me”.

Men and women modeled the latest fashions in a beautiful assortment of colors from all seasons. (You know how we do it here in South Florida). Along with this mixture of colors, there was that winning combination of a mixture of models from other churches as well as different age groups – all in the name of community involvement. Modeling the latest fashions from their own closets were Octavius Barley, Nikenna Benjamin, Angela Burns, William “BC” Clark, Beverly Gibson, Rev. Janice Haymon-Thomas, Henry “George” Hazel, Michael Rivers, Francina Weaver, Juanita Storr and Mae West (real name) . Juanita Storr represented senior citizens by modeling a beautiful red African dress trimmed in gold embroidery.

Our own Coconut Grove Village Councilwoman, Renita Ross Samuels-Dixon, who hails from Greater St. Paul AME Church served as mistress of ceremony. And served she did despite being on the mend from a recent car accident and sporting a fashionable boot as a result of it. She kept things lively by weaving comedy in with Coconut Grove history and managed to captivate the audience with a solo sung acapella as we waited for some models to change.

Both Reverend Rudolph Daniels and his wife of 41 years, Inez Daniels, walked the red carpet individually and strolled arm in arm, a snapshot of the marital bliss they’ve shared for so long.

A 1^st Place prize of a $50 Macy’s gift card was awarded to Michael Rivers. Mae West was the winner of a $30 Macy’s gift card for having won 2^nd place and a JC Penny’s gift card in the amount of $25 was given to Reverend Janice Haymon-Thomas. An illustrious panel of judges included Margaret Nee, Reverend Steve Trice, Miles Wells and Eddrest Young who were acknowledged and thanked by the Usher Ministry with certificates for their selection of these winners

Refreshments were served in the Fellowship Hall directly after the show. We look forward to a busier runway next year — one that may even give Project Runway a little competition.