Local Heroes
Born April 21st, 1959, this flower ventured off to Chicago at the tender age of 17. Accomplished mother, Woman of God, and one of the most thoughtful people we know, our hostess is named in her honor. She is?
Priscilla Ann Knight-Allen,
Cil,
Auntie Cil,
Ms. Allen
Known for her book, The Color Purple, which was adapted, and recently readapted into a movie, this Georgia Peach is?
Alice Walker
This flower is one of two women to have a Book of the Bible named in her honor; her "character" is what still makes her an admirable character today. Through her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, she's a true example that it's not about what you say, but what you do. She is?
Ruth
This flower is the original "sweet thing!" Known for her beautifully famous tousled tresses, and as the Queen of Funk, she was the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. She is?
Chaka Khan
Born into slavery in 1822, this flower dedicated her life to the abolition of slavery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She brought approximately 70 enslaved African Americans to freedom in the north; she remained a philanthropist well into her later years, founding the Home for Aged & Indigent Negroes and supporting women’s rights. She is?
Harriet Tubman
Born in 1942, she is the daughter of Mozell Kelly and Tim Warthen. Grandmother to our hostess, and mother to 10 children this flower trained them to be as brave as the last name they carry, she is?
Idella Knight,
Grandma Della,
Ms. Della
Author of Wed Her, Want Me, this flower is a fellow Georgia Peach and cousin of the hostess. Her pen name is A'Sha but we know her as?
Renee
This flower, in partnership with her husband Aquilla, showcases the power and importance of genuine respect and true partnership in a marriage. Our hostess shares her namesake as well. She is?
Priscilla
This flower graced us with her onstage presence in hits like Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, How to get Away with Murder, and Roots. She was also married to Miles Davis in the 80s, and lived to be in her 90s. She proved that at any age, true beauty is timeless! She is?
Cicely Tyson
This flower, born 1944, is an American political activist, professor, and author who was an active member in the Communist Party and the Black Panther Party. She is most famous for her involvement with the Soledad brothers, who were accused of killing a prison guard. She was even placed on the FBI’s most wanted list. She spent eighteen months in jail, which led to the “Free __ __” campaign and the ___ ____Legal Defense Committee. She is?
Angela Davis
This flower was the hostess's 1st grade teacher; she was the same for many in this room. Known for walking on her "tip toes" in heels, giving one a good swatting in front of the class, sniper sharp chalk tossing skills, and purposefully scratching her nails on the board to command your attention, she is?
Mrs. Anna Foley, Mrs. Foley
This flower was a woman well before her time! Known for her work in anthropology, folklore, and documentary making, she is probably best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. She is?
Zora Neale Hurston
This flower is a true example of what it means to love one's people. Though she found favor with the Persian king, she never forgot her Jewish roots. She is?
Queen Esther
This flower is a GRAMMY nominated, North Carolina emcee signed with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation.
With several projects, a critically acclaimed debut album in 2012, and the lone guest rap feature on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, she is quickly establishing herself as one of the best emcees of this generation. She is?
Rapsody
Her husband was sentenced, in 1964, to life imprisonment, leaving her to raise their two small daughters, Zenani and Zindzi, on her own; this South African flower vowed to continue working to end apartheid; she is?
Winnie Mandela
This flower was the hostess's 4th grade teacher. One of the greatest science minds Carver Elementary has ever known, she encouraged the hostess to compete and win science fair (where she progressed to state, competed against high schoolers, and placed). As a reward, she took the hostess to the theater to see The Body Guard during opening week; she is?
Ms. Vera Bell, Ms. Bell
This flower is no one's "Caged Bird!" She's gifted us poems such as "Phenomenal Woman" and "Still I Rise"; she is sure to inspire readers for generations to come, she is?
Maya Angelou
This flower, is a true reminder that "it ain't over til' God says it's over"; was childless until she was 90 years old. Wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac, she is?
Sarah
Despite her controversial past, this flower has persevered to become one of the best track athletes in the world. In August 2023, she won the 100m at the World Track and Field Championships in 10.65 seconds—a championship record time. She's another testament that "it ain't over til' God says so!" She is?
Sha’Carri Richardson
This flower was an African American evangelist, abolitionist, women’s rights activist and author who was born into slavery before escaping to freedom in 1826. After gaining her freedom, she preached about abolitionism and equal rights for all. She became known for a speech with the famous refrain, "Ain't I a Woman?" delivered at a women's convention in Ohio in 1851. She is?
Sojourner Truth
Born November 8, 1876, and gracing the earth for 97 years, this flower, a prominent African-American resident of Jacksonville, Florida, was widely known for her humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors in northeast Florida. She has walked the sacred ground we share today, in fact, it was named in her honor. She is?
Eartha Mary Magdalene White, Eartha White
First Black, and most beloved First Lady our nation has seen, this flower inspires us to keep on Becoming! She is?
Michelle Obama
This "Biblical Baddie" reminds us of "the power of woman" and to always use our powers for good! A woman with ill-intentions is strong enough to bring even even the "strongest man" to his knees; she proved this in her love affair with Sampson. She is?
Delilah
This flower's career was fostered by the climate of the Harlem Renaissance. During the 1930s, she was well known in Harlem as a sculptor, art teacher, and community art program director. Born "up the road" in Green Cove Springs, Florida, in 1892. Aspiring to further her career, she even moved to Jacksonville, Florida, hoping to support herself by sculpting portrait busts of prominent blacks in the community. In 1932, she established the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts and became an influential teacher in Harlem. She is?
Augusta Savage
Originally born in Chicago, but raised a Georgia Peach, this flower loves her garden, her community, her Sonshine, and her beautiful life. While many portray the image that women are unable to gather in the name of love, she's set out to disprove that theory by implanting her "sonshine" in a garden of women who love, respect, and admire one another. An amazing Lioness named in her mother's honor, she is?
Prissi, Priscilla Ann, Pris, Ms. Allen