For over 62 years, The Washington Rhinestone Club has encouraged young women in the Puget Sound Area to pursue a college education by involving them in social, civic and cultural activities and “presenting them to society” as debutantes.
The brainchild of Naomi Edinburgh Murray in 1952, The Washington Rhinestone Club has presented nearly 1,100 debutantes and recognized them for their achievements and their plans to reach their career goals. Murray founded the organization along with Evelyn Smith Robinson, Laura Taylor, Mertildia Lee (deceased), and Frances Oxnard Stephens to promote positive educational and social values in the community.
The First Debutante Ball was held in l953 at the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle, where five young women were presented and recognized for their academic achievement.
According to Colleen Walls, a member of the Washington Rhinestone Club, the organization has provided between $150,000 to $200,000 in scholarships to help debutantes pursue education beyond high school. That investment has helped produce hundreds of Black women who are now making a difference in the lives of children youth, families and communities all across the country.
“We have hundreds of former debutantes who are productive, contributing, positive change agents in their respective communities and cities,” says Walls. “We consider them all to be noteworthy, not because of who they are, but what they are doing.”
Former debutantes include: Dr. Mona Lake Jones – author, poet and motivational speaker; Venise Jones-Poole (deceased) – talented opera singer; Dr. Anita Johnson Connell – Seattle Obstetrician and Gynecologist; Barbara W. Banon – Associate Vice President and Financial Adviser, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Sherie Hickman – a hospital administrator in Los Angeles, California; Angela Rye – former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus and founder of Impact; Attorney Nancy Stephens-Saunders – one of co-founders of Youth and Law Forum, annual event for youth in the Seattle area; Dr. Irene Donley – a physician in New York City; Rev. Cecilia Johnson – minister with the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, Leslyn Jones-Petitt – Ordained Deacon and Founder of DAY OF CARING (8 years) providing Christmas gifts, clothing, food and fellowship for more than 1,500 families of all ethnicities each Christmas; and many principals, educational administrators, counselors, teachers and family support workers in Seattle and throughout the country in both high school and college.
The organization currently has twelve members, and had between 20 – 25 active members during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s – during which time the organization presented 30 to 35 young ladies annually to the community.
Walls maintains that the commitment to the organization’s mission has been a major contributor to their relevance and longevity in the community.
“We are one of a few organizations that continue to address our original mission,” says Walls. “Encouraging young women to continue education beyond high school is our biggest accomplishment.”
In addition to providing scholarships and encouraging women to pursue higher education, the organization also provides seminars to educate women in life skills like etiquette for today’s lady; career options, choices and preparation; caring for your body; finances, financial planning and college; skin care and make-up, and the youth and law forum.
“We think that in order to be a well-rounded, contributing, positive young woman one needs to have the skills to represent their self in the way that one speaks, the way that one relates to others, the appearance that one puts forth, and have the skills to better oneself financially and culturally,” says Walls with regards to the comprehensive nature of the Debutante program. “One never stops learning and in order to be a better person one needs to continue to improve themselves in all areas that are required.”
The organization also makes it a priority to choose masters of ceremonies for their annual debutante ball who are positive role models for the debutantes, their escorts and their families. Former masters of ceremonies include: Judge Donald Hailey; Judge Norma Huggins; Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell; Dr. Mildred Olee, president of Seattle Central College; Dr. Constance Rice, Chancellor, Seattle College System; William Booker, Engineer and Tuskegee Airman; Robert Staple Haynes, banker; Judge Charles Stokes; Dorothy Hollingsworth, former Seattle School Board member; and Lacey Steele, president emeritus of the Seattle-King County NAACP.
Recently the organization presented eight lovely, gifted and multi-talented young women as their 2014 debutantes.
Dr. Paul Pitre, Dean of Academic Affairs for Washington State University North Puget Sound at Everett served as Master of Ceremony. Dr. Pitre is also an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology at Washington State University.
The Queen of the 2014 Debutante Ball, with the highest accumulative grade point average was Debutante Anzhane Slaughter. Slaughter, the daughter of Mrs. Zhalena Slaughter, is a graduate of Franklin High School and currently attends the University of Washington. She received a $1,500 scholarship from Washington Rhinestone Club President Mrs. Dolores Booker.
The following Debutantes were part of the 2014 Debutante Queen’s Court:
Debutante Brittany Karen Saunders, runner-up with the second highest accumulative grade point average, is a graduate of Santiago High School in Corona, California and is currently attending San Diego State University. Saunders is the daughter of Mrs. Monica Saunders, Mr. Stillman Saunders and Mrs. Nancy Stephens Saunders.
Debutante Jada Bell, a graduate of Kentridge High School, is currently attending Highline Community College. Bell is the daughter of Mrs. Vivian Bell and Mr. Gary Bell.
Debutante Reitrea Crawford, a graduate of the Seattle Urban Academy, is currently attending Seattle University. Crawford is the niece of Mr. Pervis Willis and Judge Anita Crawford Willis.
Debutante Araeya K. Nelson, a graduate of Kentridge High School, is currently attending Washington State University. Nelson is the daughter of Ms. Nicole Bell and Mr. Evan Nelson.
Debutante Whitney Nelson, a graduate of Garfield High School, is currently attending Washington State University. Nelson is the daughter of Mrs. Brenda and Mr. Arthur Nelson.
Debutante Karrington Taylor Ogans, a graduate of Garfield High School, is currently attending Gonzaga University. Ogans is the daughter of Mrs. Nannette and Mr. William Ogans.
Debutante Jacquelyn N. Ryan, a graduate of Kentridge High School, is currently attending Eastern Washington University. Ryan is the daughter of Mrs. Deeta Burrell and Mr. Stephen Ryan, Sr.
The escorts of the Debutantes were John Jones, Landing Banda, Sehyler Ogans, Isiah Gartrell-Farris, Jator Jones, Stephen Ryan, Jr., King Cyprus Richardson and Robert Brown, III.
Serving as Princess of the Queen’s Court was Princess Jewell Martin, the daughter of Mrs. Natasha Martin and Mr. Todd Martin. Serving as Page of the Court was Tyson Walker Webster, the son of Ms. Dena Webster and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Wally Webster.
Because of the generosity of the Foundation House at the Northgate Education Committee, Dr. Nancy Scranton, Scholarship Chair, presented each Debutante with an $800 Scholarship. In addition, the Verna Busch Scholarship, The Morgan Stanly Scholarship, The Virgin Marty Christian Scholarship (presented by Dr. and Mrs. Donald Felder), The Danna K. Johnston STEM Scholarship, and three Williams’ Family Memorial Scholarships were presented to debutantes. Mr. Bernard Taylor, son of deceased WRC member Mrs. Bernice Green, along with Mr. Eddie Taylor presented each Debutante with a book scholarship in honor of their mother. The Past Washington Rhinestone Debutantes, represented by Mrs. Becky Anderson presented a Past Debutante Legacy Scholarship Award of $500.
With their 2014 Debutantes, the Washington Rhinestone Club continues its legacy of encouragement, and has helped nurture the next generation of social, civil and cultural leaders of our community.
Co-chairs for the Ball were Carol Bell Daniels and Juanita Taylor.
