High tea for first ladies

The 15th annual First Ladies High Tea, held at the Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday, Oct. 13, featured such Gospel luminaries as Grammy Award-winning singers Yolanda Adams and the sister duo, Mary Mary, who received the Spirit Award. There were also performances by actress-Gospel singers Tamela Mann and Kathy Taylor Brown. The event featured actor-comedian-director Cedric The Entertainer as the program announcer, above. Other celebrity guests included actress Elise Neal, David (“Meet the Browns”) Mann, musician Sheila E, Sheree Fletcher and others. The event honored women and first ladies who have served the communities through their activism and charitable contributions. This year’s honors went to the Rev. Beverly “Bam” Crawford of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International, Tisa Hill of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Togetta Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church and Evelyn Perkins of True Friendship Baptist Church. In photo below are KABC talk radio host Larry Elder, left, three young essay winners: Kiana Deane, first place; Dana Parker, second place; Emeeko Millsap and Lauren Allen, who tied for third place, and Samantha Jones, senior vice president, Wells Fargo Bank. The afternoon tea event hosted 1,000-plus attendees under the theme, “Respecting Ourselves and Each Other.”/OW photo by Nyema Vernon