By Tanna Friday
Editor
CENTER POINT — On Saturday, April 14, 11 ladies in Alabama Representative Rolanda Hollis’ 58th district were invited and recognized at an inaugural Beautiful Women in Hats luncheon.
The event, held at Center Point’s Hill Crest Manor, began around 1 p.m. with a luncheon and a recognition ceremony for the many women in the community who have made a difference.
“The event is called Beautiful Women in Hats,” said James Green, Hollis’ assistant. “Rep. Hollis is very much about women empowerment in that women make a great contribution to families. She wanted to recognize women in the district who have made significant contributions, big or small, over the several years.”
The garden party celebration, described by Green, honors each woman with a specific flower, one lady honored with a bouquet.
“When I was traveling in England,” said Green, “I would go to the gardens and see all of the different kinds of flowers. Some would pick this flower, or a rose, hydrangea – whatever. Then there would be a time where they would pick flowers from everywhere to create a boutique.”
“Every honoree will be awarded for a different kind of flower,” he said. “And one woman will be honored with a bouquet.”
Green said some honorees were judges, a first lady, educator, involved in the civil rights movement, and a housekeeper for Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We wanted to create a situation where women can come together and we can highlight, showcase and appreciate them,” he said.
Green said this year’s honorees are the Beautiful Women in Hat’s inaugural class.
“Since this is our first event, a lot of people didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “But we are just going to feel our way through and make it happen.”
Honorees are nominated by the neighborhood associations from across the district.
“We had a plethora of nominations,” said Green. “We could honor every one of these ladies with a bouquet, but to give it life for the future, we decided to select ten flowers honorees and one bouquet.”
Beautiful Women in Hats honorees: Carlene Cannon, Connie Goldsby, Patricia Hayes, Carnella Green-Norman, Pat Lowe, Betty S. T. Henderson, Lois Shaw, Kathy Stiles Freeman, Cassandra Renee Hollins, and Janie Ashley