[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5523]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING LES SOEURS CHARMANTES SOCIAL AND CIVIC CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a group of 
women who has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication and 
a desire to serve their community, the Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and 
Civic Club. This Social and Civic Club has served as an informational 
vehicle in the Warren County community and the State of Mississippi.
  The Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club was organized at the 
home of Mrs. Melissa L. Demby on November 3, 1968. The purpose of the 
organization is to promote service, philanthropic as well as cultural 
and social interests. Colors selected for the organization are blue and 
white. The club song was written to the tune of ``My Fair Lady'' by 
club member Daisy Bell. In 1970, the club became affiliated with the 
National Association of Colored Women's Club. Chartered members who are 
still active with the club today are: Mrs. Gwendolyn Brown, Mrs. Helen 
Bowman, Mrs. Beverly Gaskin and Mrs. Carolyn Strothers.
  The first debutante ball was held in March, 1971 at the Vicksburg 
City Auditorium and 16 girls were presented to society. The purpose of 
the event was to encourage black girls to take pride in their character 
and scholarship. Proceeds from the debutante ball have provided 
scholarships to young ladies for over 40 years.
  Also proceeds have been used to fund many civic projects in the 
Vicksburg, Mississippi community such as: donations to the local 
battered women's shelters, tutorial programs, art projects, NAACP, 
Meals-on-Wheels, Techno-Color Rewind (Blair E. Batson Children's 
Hospital), Patricia A. Segrest Memorial Sickle Cell Walk, Vicksburg 
Benevolent Homecoming Club Scholarship, donations of blankets to 
nursing homes and the We Care Community Service Organization 
Scholarship.
  The club also provides the Clara Rhodman Prosser Scholarship, in 
honor of their beloved club member, to local high school graduates. 
Many of the debutantes have gone on to pursue various professional and 
educational paths as teachers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, 
military, etc.
  The Les Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club still stands strong 
as one of the few organizations still in existence today promoting 
achievement and academic excellence to young ladies ready to make their 
mark upon the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Les 
Soeurs Charmantes Social and Civic Club for its dedication to serving 
others and giving back to the community.

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