WS Chronicle

 Leaders recognize the younger generation at the event. (submitted photo)

Special to The Chronicle

This year’s sixth annual Ladies on the Lawn drew 144 attendees to the Odd Fellows Club House on Saturday Aug. 1, with the theme “God’s Been Just That Good.” Crystal Coston Hoover, founder and president, said the event once again drew attendees of all ages and all walks of life.

The evening began with Gail Couthen, Kim Benson Myers and the “Old New Light Gospel Choir” singing “I Will Trust in the Lord.”

Kiya Caldwell performed a praise danced to “Because Of Who You Are” by Vicki Vohe.

Sa Tesha Dobson performed a dance to “You Are God Alone” by Marvin Sapp. A prayer of thanksgiving was given by Elder Deloris Chiles before the attendees sat down for an elegant dinner.

After dinner, the ladies ministered through song, “If I Can’t Say a Word” by Ann Nesby.

The speaker of the evening, Evangelist Emma D. Tate, associate minister of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Thomasville, ministered a powerful word to the ladies. She encouraged them that regardless of what they were going through, God‘s been just that good. Even through all walks of life, God is good. “The Holy Spirit was indeed in the ballroom that evening,” Hoover said.

The testimonies from the ladies were heartwarming. During the evening, the younger generation of ladies were all called up, and the evangelist, ministers and elders in attendance came up and prayed for the young ladies. A memorial service, with the lighting of candles for the late Twana Southern Gilliam and Betty Jean Wardlow, was also part of the evening.

Ladies on the Lawn ended with the circle of rejoice lead by Spiritual Advisor Glenda D. Stover, with each of the women holding up praise signs, singing, clapping and dancing to the tune “Every Praise is to Our God” by Hezekiah Walker. “What a beautiful night it was for the ladies,” Hoover said.

Hoover explains the logo of the group: “The image of the black dress is the image of a beautiful lady of God, a kind, loving intelligent lady, a lady who loves, respects, who is strong, smart and a lady of class and dignity. There is no face on the image because this is not one lady who sat on the lawn; there are many joining her, from all walks of life, putting God first over positive testimonies that may bless or brighten ones day.”