Page 269 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

269 | P A T R I C I A R A E M E R R I T T W H A T L E Y

Mr. Eugene Petty was an outstanding principal in the Seminole County School System and, on occasion, he contributed sound advice
toward the administration of Tajiri Arts. His wisdom was extremely valuable and helpful to us. The Pettys’ daughter, Demetria Petty

Manes, was a Tajiri Arts student and one of our Ballet instructors. She went on to become the founder of D&T Dance Studio, located

in Hampton, Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Petty and Mrs. Demetria Petty Manes, you deserve this salute. Thank you for your overwhelming co-operation

and support of Tajiri Arts School and Museum.

~ Rev. Otis and Mrs. Carolyn Raines ~

Mrs. Carolyn Raines was Tajiri’s first Bookkeeper. She saw the need to assist me in the area (I’m sure she knew I was truly

incompetent). I welcomed her expertise, and Rev. Raines approved of her decision. Mrs. Raines was also the Program Designer for
Tajiri Arts. She would work on program designs into the wee hours after putting in eight to ten hours on her regular job. As a

PTAPER (Parents That Are Participators), she was remarkable in solicitating operating funds for Tajiri. Their daughter Latisha

Raines-Coleman, who was a student at Tajiri, won the Best Talent Award in her middle school pageant.

I am so grateful for the Raines family and the services that they graciously provided for Tajiri Arts.

~ Mr. Ernest and Mrs. Levather Whitby ~

The Whitbys have been dedicated and committed friends for many, many years. Mr. Whitby and I knew each other in high school.
We also attended Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, at the same time. Mrs. Whitby and I became friends when they got married

and moved back to Sanford. Our membership at St. Paul Baptist Church further strengthened our relationship. This is where I
discovered the multi-talented Levather Whitby. I knew I wanted her gifts to embellish Tajiri Arts: Set Designer, Costume Seamstress,