Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 7-20-18

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018
B
8th Grade Student Is Crowned 2018 ‘Miss Juneteenth’
In an effort to make the community more aware of the meaning of “Juneteenth,” the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition hosted several events, in conjunction with several organizations.
Pastor Philetha Tucker-Johnson is Presi- dent of the Coalition. Her goal is to have organizations hosting and sponsoring Juneteenth events to present under one umbrella, so that events recognizing June- teenth will be held through- out the month of June.
Several events were held throughout the month. The COACH Foundation, Inc., under Rev. Willie G. Dixon, and Tampa’s Best
hosted the 6th Annual June- teenth Celebration; Eddie Adams and the Tampa Bay Chapter of 100 Black Men hosted a luncheon; and the Coalition put on an awards celebration, spearheaded by Pastor Celeste Battle; and the first ever Miss June- teenth Pageant, coordinated by Adria Johnson.
The all-day Street Festival along Main Street was the culmination of the month’s events on June 30th. Popular DJ, Randall ‘C’ hosted this event.
The first pageant was held at TPepin Hospitality Centre. Rod Carter was the Master of Ceremony and he announced the winner of the
pageant. Pastor Tucker- Johnson explained to the audience the meaning of Juneteenth. Pastor Clethen Sutton, read the Proclamation from Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Rep- resentative Sean Shaw; the congratulatory letters from Sen. Marco Rubio, and Comm. Les Miller and the County Commissioners.
The winner of the pageant was Cloe Jones, daughter of Conchita Canty-Jones and Darron Jones. She is an 8th grade student at Or- ange Grove Middle Magnet School.
Samantha Under- wood, daughter of Tynesia
Clark and Rodney Levin, was the First Runner-up; and Ja’mia Lewis, daughter of
Washington, was the Sec- ond Runner-Up. (Pho- tographs by Frederick Harris)
Victoria
and Jimmy
The contestants, Samantha Underwood, Cloe Jones, Ja'mia Lewis, and Jr. Miss Juneteenth, Makayla Newson.
Miss Juneteenth, Cloe Jones was serenaded and presented flowers by Nehemiah Brissineau.
Supt. and Mrs. Clethen Sut- ton were among those in atten- dance.
Ms. Pavone Scott sang the National Anthem and the Negro National Anthem.
Jessie Quinn, Sr., Talent Specialist and Secretary, Tampa Juneteenth Coalition, and Jessie Quinn, Jr., were among the attendees.
Jr. Miss Juneteenth, Makayla Newson, daughter of Lenika Mitchell and Marquise Newson.
Celeste D. Battle and Gloria Chiles attended the pageant.
Judges for the Miss Juneteenth Pageant were: April Lufriu, Jorad Holmes, and Evangelist Janice Nunn-Nelson.
Adria Johnson, Pageant Coordinator, presents gift to Samantha Underwood, 1st Runner Up.
Young Mentors For Ministry Praise Dancers performed as did the three contestants.
Rod Carter, Master of Cere- monies, and Pastor Philetha Tucker- Johnson, President of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coali- tion.
“Miss Juneteenth,” Cloe Jones with family and friends: Conitha Jones, Conchita L. Canty-Jones, her mother; Rayna Lewis, Constance Richardson, Darrian Jones, Darron Jones (her father), Thomas Mur- dock (grandfather). Clint Jenkins, Jr. and Vera Scriven.