Three-hundred guests and fans of Charley Kibby Johnson stepped out in their finest gala attire last month. The newly renovated St. Louis Renaissance Hotel at the airport was the venue for the “Pearl Gala” honoring the CEO and Founder of Charley’s Body Shop. Charley’s has been providing outstanding dance training and performances as well as quality fitness services for 30 years. The gala was appropriately themed “30 Years and Still Dancing with Total Praise.”
Hostesses/gala committee members wore glamorous black attire with pearls in keeping with the theme “Pearl Gala.” Kacie Starr Triplett delighted guests as the Mistress of Ceremonies; the Keynote Speaker was the Honorable Judge Jimmie Edwards, presiding 22nd Judicial Court of Missouri and Founder of St. Louis Innovative Careers Academy. Attendees experienced a moving invocation by Reverend Brenda J. Hayes, Presiding Elder, St. Louis – Columbia District, AME Church.
Highlights of the evening included creative liturgical dance performances by CBS Dance Company. All proceeds from this fabulous affair will benefit the CBS Youth Scholarship Fund, a 501c3 non-for-profit organization.
Gala committee members included Charley Kibby Johnson CBS Director / Owner, Gladys Mansfield and Jerri Kibby Williams, Co-Chairs, Lisa Billings, Norma J. Brooks, Shirley George, Peggy Henderson, Shameem Clark Hubbard, Potpourri Correspondent Emily M. Jenkins, Patricia Miller, Marcia Jones Scott, Cynthia Stevens, Esq., Saundra White and Darryl Worth. The committee was justifiably pleased with the successful outcome of their pre-holiday “Pearl Gala.”
The St. Louis Paupers held their annual Christmas Holiday Brunch December 1 in the main ballroom at the downtown Missouri Athletic Club. It was a joyful affair with festive holiday and old standard tunes provided by D.J. Casual.
Guests and members enjoyed an old fashioned meet and greet in the MAC lobby before proceeding upstairs for the main event. Wanda Ware and her team of Santa’s elves that included President Jocelyn Woodson-Reed, Wanda, Karen Moore, Sheila Word and Nancy Thompson were responsible for the planning of a lovely affair.
Other members in attendance included Mary A. Polk, Mary Olivia Polk, Johni Ola Spencer, Delores Roberts, Geneva Richardson, Albernice Fagen, Paula Knight, Karen Moore, Angela Brown, Dana G. Randolph, Gail Allmon and Susan Buford.
With so many in attendance it would be hard to mention everyone but to name a few: Randall, Loren and Randi Cahill, Ronald and Linda Baker Roby, STL Urban League President Michael McMillan, Ida G. Woolfolk, Jerda Marie Riley, Karen McMurray, Andrea Haynes, Gwendolyn Key, Mary Riley Douglas, Dwain Little, Linda Clark, Denise Casey, Wendell Allmon, Jim Buford, Honorable Don McCullin, Victor Roberts and Jeanne and Michael V. Roberts Sr.
St. Louis Guardsmen enjoying a weekend in Cabos San Lucas last month included Richard Banks and Larissa Steele, Faith and Cornell Thomas, Victor and Nancy Thompson, Bernard Randolph and Kathleen Smith, Jonathan and Bettye Reed, Wayman and Susan Smith. The group was hosted by the New Jersey chapter of Guardsmen and had a glamorous long weekend in the sun.
Congratulations to NFL Hall of Famer and former St. Louis Ram Marshall Faulk who was inducted, along with NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor on December 14. Both former Colts and exceptional players during their careers were honored to be recognized by the team that offered them a playing field early in their careers.
Bravo to Rocky Arceneaux (Alliance Sports) client Donald Penn #70 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) who launched a successful kick-off campaign for his foundation at Louis Vuitton Tampa Bay last month. The Donald Penn Foundation, headquartered in St. Louis, will focus on aiding disadvantaged youth in Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and St. Louis.
In town for the event were Renee and Donald Penn Sr. and Donald’s lovely wife Dominique Penn of Open Heart Foundation fame. Dominique, along with a couple of friends spent her birthday weekend last month packing and distributing lunches to the homeless. They blessed 50 people with the lunches and she hopes to distribute 100 the next time. A young lady with broad interests and varied talents, Dominique pens an interesting blog, http://everythingmrspennloves.blogspot.com/ . Check her out.
Happy holidays! Count it all joy.
