LANSING, MI -- "Majestic Memories" was the theme of the debut of eleven young ladies at the 2005 Les Meres et Debutantes 40th Annual Cotillion Ball held at the Lansing Convention Center on March 5.

Elegant and inspired describes the event. However, no words can capture the glow of the young ladies on their special night. Here is the list of the beautiful Debs and their escorts:

Debutante Jessica Cherie Boyd, the daughter of Mr. Michael Boyd and Ms. Monica Boyd, escorted by Mr. Angelo D. Garay the son of Ms. Mary Jane Garay and Mr. Frank Martinez Debutante Alexandra Joya Cabule, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest and Janice Cabule, escorted by Mr. Dexter D. Baker the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnie and Latreresa Baker Debutante Salihah NaDae Copedge, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale and Doris Copedge, escorted by Mr. Stanley E. Johnson, Jr. the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Emma Williams Debutante Alexis Michelle Flakes, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlton and Glorietta Flakes, escorted by Mr. Matthew I. Blackwell the son of Mr. and Mrs. Devron and Gina Blackwell Debutante Jamila Amanda Gladney, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus and Evelyn Gladney, escorted by Mr. Herschel-Brandon E. J. Rodgers the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herschel and Denise Rodgers Debutante Britney Monique Henderson, the daughter of Dr.and Mrs. David and Brenda Henderson, escorted by Mr. William Anthony Lykes the son of Mr. and Mrs. William and Janice Lykes Debutante Jocelyn Yvonne Marks, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Constance Marks, escorted by Mr. DelCarlos Duncan, Jr. the son of Mr. and Mrs. DelCarlos Sr. and April Duncan Debutante RaShawn Angelic Mitchner, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Sr. and Shirley Mitchner, escorted by Mr. Adam S. Graddick the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph and Mary Graddick Debutante Martena Cordai Reed, the daughter of Ms. LaTanya D. Reed, escorted by Mr. Ramon D. Dunn II son of Mr. and Mrs. Ramon and Tanya Dunn Debutante Ashley Latrice Walker, the daughter of Mrs. Evelyn Walker and the late Mr. Frank J. Walker, escorted by Mr. Jamari S. Walker the son of Ms. Sherri Rolon and Mr. Steven Walker Debutante Danielle Alisa Welch, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Ruth Welch-Blair and Mr. David A. Welch, Jr., escorted by Mr. Anthony M. Brandon the son of Ms. Adriane Truss and Mr. Mark Brandon.

Friendship Baptist Church to host HIV/AIDS education,
prayer and ministry meeting

LANSING, MI -- The Friendship Baptist Church Nurses Guild in collaboration with the Lansing Area AIDS Network (LAAN) invites the community to participate in the 16th Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

Saturday, March 12, 2005, Friendship will host education and faith-based ministry on HIV/AIDS and the African American community 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., with a special focus of African American Women and youth. Lunch will be provided. LAAN will also provide free, anonymous HIV testing through the afternoon. All activities will be held at Friendship Baptist Church, 2912 Pleasant Grove, Lansing, MI 48910. The Reverend Lester D. Stone, Pastor.

Through gospel, experts providing medical care to those living with HIV/AIDS, workshops, and the panelists from the Michigan AIDS Funds's Positive Perspectives, Friendship, and LAAN will help the community learn more about what we can all do to fight this epidemic.

The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a national awareness campaign started by the BALM in Gilead, one of the oldest HIV faith-based AIDS ministries in the United States. Thousands of faith institutions nationwide participate in the annual observance. The week of Prayer brings national and international attention to the role Black churches play in the HIV/AIDS crisis-caring for those in our communities affected by the disease and prevention its further spread.

AIDS continues to be the leading cause of death fro African American ages 25-44. As reported in the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (2002), VOL. 14, African Americans accounted for 54 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2002. Over 50 percent of all new HIV diagnoses are in people under 25. The rate of AIDS cases among African American adults and teens (76.4 per 100,000) was nearly eleven times greater than that of Whites (7.0 per 100,000). From 1996 to 2002, almost as many people over 50 years of age were diagnosed with AIDS as those who were diagnosed in their twenties.

Join Friendship Baptist Church and LAAN combine the power of prayer and education to eradicate fear and ignorance.

For more information, please contact Sharon Marshall/Friendship Baptist Church at 517-394-6369 or Kaye McDuffie at 517-394-3719, Ext. 26.