Elite Ladies put their etiquette skills to use in Baton Rouge

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 14, 2010

By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The Elite Ladies Club of Emily C. Watkins Elementary School ended its inaugural year in high style.

The six girls — TreShae Love, Taylor Griffin, Neya Smith, Akira Miles, D’Neshia Mitchell and Shandrika Woods — recently attended the Word of Life Christian Center Crystal Rose Debutante Ball in Baton Rouge. They were invited by the ball’s coordinator, who spoke to the girls during the school year.

To get the young ladies ready for the event, six sponsors who wished to remain anonymous took them on a shopping spree, and each chose a dress, which the sponsors purchased for them, for the occasion.

On the special day, each girl dressed to the nines, the Elite Ladies boarded a limousine, sponsored by Sunshine Express, which whisked them away to the event in Baton Rouge.

Upon being seated at their table, club sponsor Bernetta Ambres said the girls were delighted to see the place setting at the table matched the one they had practiced with throughout the course of the year.

“I was very pleased they got to apply those etiquette skills,” said Ambres.

After dining on their four-course meal, the girls watched as the 16-year-old debutantes were formally presented to society in a ceremony that included waltzes with the debutantes’ escorts and fathers.

During the course of the evening, Word of Life’s pastor, Dr. Leroy Thompson Sr., spoke with each member of the Elite Ladies Club individually, asking her how she felt about the event. He also suggested the girls read “I’m OK, You’re OK,” which Ambres said she would get for them.

Ambres said it was an eye-opening event for the Elite Ladies as they imagined the day they might be presented to society in similar fashion.

“We had a fabulous time,” said Ambres.