On December 27, 2013, guests walked the Red Carpet into a gala, red rose draped setting to witness the introduction of Imperial Club, Incorporated’s 2013 Debutantes at Birmingham’s historic Boutwell Auditorium. Following an opening prayer by Councilman Rev.Steven Hoyt and greetings from Mayor William Bell; honored guests, including Circuit Judge Helen Shores Lee, Dr. Debbie Voltz, Dean of the UAB School of Education and 1978 Imperial Club, Incorporated Debutante, Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Mayor Bell were introduced to guests. At the height of the event, parents of the 2013 Debutantes presented their daughters orbs of red roses as each Debutante was introduced. The rose orbs represented the theme for the Ball: “Closing the Circle: Celebrating a Legacy of Lifting and Climbing.”
The young ladies who were presented as 2013 Debutantes were:
Miss Elbonie Latrice Edwards, a senior at Hoover High School was presented by her mother, Aundrunette Davis and her Godfather Cedric Sparks.
Miss Alana Olivia Ingram, a senior at Spain Park High School was presented by her parents Klonaris and Tracy Ingram.
Miss Nayirah Adia Muhammad, a senior at John Carroll Catholic High School was presented by her parents Maurice and Fanchon Muhammad.
Miss Andre’a Shania Lawson, a senior at A.H. Parker High School was presented by her parents the late Andre’ Munday and Lameeka Munday.
Miss Antionique Leonard, a senior, at George Washington Carver High School was presented by her parents Antonio and Cherique Leonard.
Miss Jalia Charna’ Lewis, a senior, at Clay-Chalkville High School was presented by her parents, Edward and Jamesel Lewis.
Miss Lauren Chanel Pitts, a senior at Hewitt Trussville High School was presented by her parents Michael and Sonya Pitts.
Miss Alexia Reed, a senior, at Minor High School was presented by her parents Orlanda and Rhonda Phillips Reed.
Miss Bianca Gayle Tompkins, a senior, at John Carroll Catholic High School was presented by her parents Albert and Charlene Tompkins.
Miss Eboni Alexis Wright, a freshman, at Jefferson State Community College and Samford University was presented by her parents Walter and Carmen Wright.
The official Debutante escorts, the Imperial Club, Incorporated 2013 Floormen, were:
Mr. Elbert Edwards, a senior at Hoover High School, presented by Mrs. Andrunnette Davis, and his Godfather, Mr. Linbergh Carter.
Mr. Devin Jamal Hudson, a junior at Midfield High School, son of Mr. & Mrs. William Hudson, Sr.
Mr. Bryan Alexander McMillan, a senior at Pinson Valley High School, son of Randy & Soneshia McMillan.
Mr. Ira Cornelius Johnson Jr., a senior at Gardendale High School, son of Ira & Michelle Johnson Sr.
Mr. Roderick Micah Patterson, a senior at Shades Valley High School, son of Roosevelt and Dominga Powell.
Mr. Ronald Pressley Jr., a senior at Clay-Chalkville School High, son of Ronald and Cheryl Pressley.
Mr. Keion Raspberry-Chandler, a senior at Minor High School, son of Rosalind Raspberry.
Mr. Shawn Devontay Seward, a junior at A. H. Parker High School, son of Jeryl & Tabatha Seward.
Mr. Tyshun Underwood, a junior at Jackson-Olin High School, son of April Pickens.
Mr. Eric Williams, a senior at Minor High School, son of Keith and Kay Williams.
Miss Bianca Tompkins was robed Debutante Queen 2013 and received the Imperial Club, Incorporated Queen’s Scholarship. Mister Ronald Pressley Jr. was named Floorman of the year and received the Darrick Clarke scholarship from the Imperial Club, Incorporated Men’s Auxiliary.
The theme, “Closing the Circle: Celebrating a Legacy of Lifting and Climbing”, was chosen to acknowledge Birmingham’s 50 Years Forward Commemoration of the Civil Rights era. During the “Closing the Circle Ceremony”, Misses Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia D. Morris Wesley, Carole Robertson, Denise McNair were named Honorary Debutantes. Mrs. Sara Collins Rudolph, who survived the church bombing, was also named honorary debutante. Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson, teenage boys who were also killed on September 15, 1963, were remembered during the ceremony. The ceremony symbolically closed the circle of four years from December 1963 through December 1966 when this Debutante Ball was not held due to extreme civil unrest in the city.
A centerpiece of the ceremony was presentation of keepsake boxes that contained the traditional 16 button length gloves and the tiara worn by all Imperial debutantes to families of Honorary Debutantes. A plaque with the name of the honoree was affixed to each commemorative box. Metro Birmingham NAACP, Dr. Martha Barber, Dr. Emma Jean Shepard and Christina Shepard Norman, Imperial Deb, 1984, Girl Scout Troop – 208 of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and Imperial Club, Incorporated sponsored the Keepsake boxes.
Mrs. Maxine McNair (Imperial Debutante 1948) and Miss Lisa McNair (Imperial Deb 1997) mother and sister of Honorary Debutante Denise McNair joined the circle of approximately 100 former debutantes who represented Imperial Club, Incorporated Debutantes from 1948 through 2013.
Co-Directors for this event were Mrs. Peggie Myles (Debutante 1959) and Dr. Ruth S.Tucker (Debutante 1967). The club’s Debutante Ball Steering Committee included former Imperial Debutantes: Tabatha L. Seward, Vonderia Yeldell, Christina S. Norman, Cassandra F. Fells and Elana P. Merriweather. Mrs. Mary B. Jackson is Imperial Club, Incorporated President.
