Twenty-one girls ages 11-13 experienced an evening of high honor at a cotillion reminiscent of a queen where friends and family gathered to hold them in high honor and esteem.
The Young Ladies of Grace Leadership Team of the Greater Fairview Baptist Church held its first Annual Queen Esther’s Court Cotillion at Jackson State University General Purpose Room on Saturday evening, July 12, 2008.
Melissa Faith Payne, news anchor of Newschannel 12, was the mistress of ceremony.
“I can only imagine how honored, and how special parents, family members and friends feel to be out here tonight to see these young ladies, these beautiful and intelligent young ladies,” Payne said.
Each of the participants, wearing floor length white gowns, was escorted into the ballroom by their parents and seated on the stage as the mistress of ceremony read their aspirations aloud. The girls also wore smiles and confidence that filled the room with their beauty as they were lavished with a trumpet fanfare, a dramatization and musical selections.
Rev. Dr. Danny Hollins, pastor of Greater Fairview Baptist Church, proudly crowned each girl with the finesse of a king. First Lady Jacqueline Hollins pinned on their purple sashes and Mable L. Easley presented each with a long stemmed white rose.
To show her understanding of the significance of being a member of Queen Esther’s Court, each girl shared a personal proclamation adapted from Queen Esther in the book of Esther in the Bible.
Pastor Hollins explained why it was important for the honorees to learn from the figure in biblical history. “We want these girls to model Queen Esther’s behavior,” he said. He said that programs like this develop character. “You can be elegant, have a night of glamour and fun and it doesn’t have to be nasty and perverse.”
Cotillions and pageantries are usually associated with the secular world but Pastor Hollins shared the spiritual importance of the event. “I do want to say, that this occasion speaks to the fact that we do not concede or yield any territory to the enemy,” he said. “The significance of it is that we are actually first and foremost trying to make sure that they know that God should be involved in every aspect of their lives.”
After the serenade, the girls of Queen Esther’s Court graced the audience with a promenade and received gifts from the Young Ladies of Grace Leadership Team lead by Victoria Thompson.
“I think it was fabulous. We had a few little rough spots but again, this is our first one.” Thompson said. Believing that the event will benefit the community in the future, Thompson continued, “I think that the secular world becomes more accepting of anything. You have to work within your church to keep your children in the right setting.”
A member of the court, twelve year-old Morgan Jackson, was excited during the weeks leading up to the cotillion. “It was a lot of practice and finding the perfect dress was important. We all feel very special and loved tonight. Thanks, mom.”
Members of
Queen Esther’s Court
Celia Burse, Deandra Cotton, Ivory Davis, Victoria Fields, Asia Haynes, Courtney Helom, Aakecio Henderson, Voneshia Hewitt, Ashley Hollins, Joanna Hughes, Symmeatra Irby, DeSharra Jackson, Evencia Jackson, Morgan Jackson, Emerald Johnson, Alexandria Jones, Maia Neal, Jada Rogers, Brenna Showers, Imani Smith and Kelsie Thompson.
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