The Southern Pearl Newsletter Volume 2

Volume 2
September - December 2022
The
Pearl
Top Ladies of Distinction ● Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter ● Quarterly Newsletter
Presidential Reflections
Inspirational Words
Sisterly Relations
Chapter Events
Acknowledgements
Pearl Highlights
Comedy Corner
A Sister’s Recipe
Looking Back
Teens are Tops

Presidential Reflections
Greetings to the Fabulous Ladies of the Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter!
It’s almost hard to believe that we celebrated our 1 st anniversary in TLOD, Inc.
Although challenged with a pandemic and countless adjustments, we are
productive and already making a great impact in the South Dade Community.
Since our last chapter newsletter, we have continued to make great strides in
service. Together, we have completed events, contributed to the community,
and partnered with other organizations to accomplish great things.
Thank you for the commitment and dedication to all these efforts. As we
continue to move in excellence, I am encouraging you to do three things. First,
be sure to take care of you and your family. Remember that these are always
your first assignments. Second, remember your Pearl Sister and your Teen
Mentee. Call them and take the time to learn something new about each one
of them. Third and last, consider an elder and have senior conversations with
a senior member of our community. The most valuable contributions of any
society just may be the history and knowledge which can easily come from our
seniors. Let’s take the time to listen to them.
I look forward to continuing this walk of excellence in sisterly TLOD service
with you!
Sisterly blessings,
Lady Regina

Inspirational
Word
Psalm 37 verse 23 says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who
delights in him.” (NIV) More familiar to you may be the King James
Version of this scripture that says, “The steps of a good man are
ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.” In other words,
regardless of what comes our way and no matter what may happen in
our lives, our every step is ordered by God. So, as long as we are doing
good, when we find ourselves in the midst of the valley or even when
we end up in the shadow of death, those steps are also ordered by God.
God orders our steps and our stops. But if we keep reading, we see in
verse 24 that although we may stumble, we will not fall, for the Lord
upholds us with his hand. So, through the stumbles, missteps, faults,
and mistakes, just be grateful for the Lord’s hand. Know we get it right
everyday even if you are experiencing a bad day. Just remember the
Lord’s hand.
- Lady Karen D. Harris

Sisterly Relations
WELCOME
LADY SHARON KENDRICK-JOHNSON
Lady Sharon Kendrick-Johnson was a tenured
member of the Miami-Dade Chapter of Top
Ladies of Distinction, Inc. She has served as
Historian, Status of Women Chair, Nominating
Chair, Newsletter Chair, and Corresponding
Secretary. During her tenure she also served
on several committees: Hospitality, Senior
Citizens, and Community Beautification. Lady
Sharon served as the Orchid President during
her induction into Top Ladies of TLOD Inc., in
2011. One of her recent accomplishments is
the receipt her doctoral degree in Mediation.
She is a Certified Supreme Court Mediator
and a substitute teacher. Lady Sharon’s
mediation articles can be viewed on
mediate.com. Both she and her husband,
William Johnson, retired circuit court judge
are enjoying their two fur babies and lots of
nieces/nephews. Lady Sharon enjoys
traveling, community service, and looks
forward to continued service to our
community as a Southern Pearl.

Looking Back…
May 2022
• Southern Pearls Miami- Dade Chapter Charter Day Event - 15
• Area IV Shero Educators - 3
• Pink and Blue Stomp Out Cancer - 14
• Chapter Meeting & Anniversary Celebration - 21
• Thriving with Lupus – 25
August 2022
• SPMD/TTA Joint Retreat – 27
• TLOD Literacy Back to School Drive - 27

Happy 1 st Anniversary
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.
Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter
On May 15, 2021, we hit the ground running and have not looked back. Our
achievements have been the results of our combined efforts and may the journey
of our success continue in the coming years.

Happy 1 st Anniversary
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.
Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter

Retreat Raffle HBCU TTA’s
Registration Winners! Bingo Pep Rally!

SPMD & TTA’s had a blast during our first joint Chapter Retreat!

Secure the Bag Scholarship Partners
FAMU
University
Recruiters
Hampton University
FIU
Army National Guard

Status of Women and Legislative Committee

Lady Chandra Burgess
On March 15 th CMB Visions
celebrated it’s 21 st Anniversary due
it’s illustrious visionary leader.
Congratulations Lady Chandra!
Lady Kathy L. Horton
Strathmore’s Worldwide Who’s Who
recognized Lady Kathy L. Horton for inclusion
in their 2022 publication. This recognition is
granted to individuals who have exemplified
Leadership and Achievement in their
occupation, industry or profession.
Lady Latoya James
On June 17, 2022, Lady Latoya James was
promoted to Principal, North Dade Center
for Modern Languages and was also
recently married.
Lady Michelle Witherspoon
Celebrating Lady Michele
Witherspoon whose son Denim
Edwards received a full scholarship
from the United States Naval
Academy. He aspires to become a
Naval Officer while playing football.

Lady Alexia Rolle
Recognizing Lady Alexia Rolle on her
promotion as Dean of Career and Technical
Education, Miami Dade College, Wolfson
Campus.
Lady Celethia Passmore-Mack
Recognizing Lady Celethia Passmore-Mack who
was recognized by Dade County Public Schools
as one of the ETO Exemplars as an “A” School
Principal.
Lady Jovita Johnson
Kudos to Lady Jovita Johnson who was
promoted on January 24, 2022, as Case
Manager for The Resource Room Project
Connect Program.
Lady Karen Reed
Celebrating Lady Karen Reed who opened
Auntie Ann’s Restaurant on June 7, 2022.
Lady Dynese Perry
Acknowledging Lady Dynese Perry who
recently retired with thirty years of service
from Miami-Dade County Public Schools as
an Alternative Education Site Coordinator.

December 2022
• Chapter Meeting – 17
• Pearl Partners/Sisterly Relations Activities
• Area IV Christmas in Paris Fundraiser – 11
October 2022
• Chapter Meeting – 15
• Pearl Partners/Sisterly Relations Activities
• Status of Women Power in Your Purpose Summit - 26
November 2022
• National March of Dimes Month
• Pearl Partners/Sisterly Relations Activities
• Rock the Vote - 8
• Chapter Meeting – 19 (Wear Purple Attire); send photos to
nymacon@yahoo.com
• All State Cluster – 12

Mail to:
Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter
P.O. Box 56-5313
Miami, Florida 33256
All Ladies must remit $25 Payment.
Payment Methods:
Cash App ($SPMDTLOD)
Check/Money Order

Sunday, December 11, 2022

~SAVE THE DATE~
41 st MARCH 16 - 19, 2023
Registration:
Will run October 1, 2022 - January 31, 2023
Conference Registration Fees
Ladies $295 - Teens $220 - Lords $200
Conference begins: 4:00 P.M. on March 16
Hotel: Renaissance Orlando @ Sea World
6677 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, Florida 32821
Hotel Pricing
$220 + $25 per night Resort Fee

Pearl Highlight
• I was born in
Pearl
Bradenton,
Highlight
Florida
• I am a proud graduate of
Wiley College
• I love baking
• I volunteer with the NAACP
Youth Council
• I am single and ready to
mingle
• I am a member of New Birth
Baptist Church
• My Bachelor’s Degree is in
Interdisciplinary Studies –
Global Child Development
• I am a Rocket

April
July
Lady Delshonna Harris - 12 Lady Michele Witherspoon - 1
Lady Natasha Myers-Spence - 25 Lady Barbara Thomas-Robinson - 2
Lady LaTonda James – 15 Lady LaVenia Jackson-Askew - 27
May
August
Lady Ciera Clark – 3 Lady Stacey McGhee - 1
Lady Kay Williams-Dawson – 7 Lady Alessandra Williams- 2
Lady Linda Williams – 8 Lady Alexia Rolle - 12
Lady LaKisha Richardson Jones – 12 Lady Cheree Gulley - 20
Lady Earline P. Dotson – 16 Lady Toya Dotson Greene - 26
Lady Pamela Luckie-Latimore – 18
June
September
Lady Dja Duque-Wright – 1 Lady Willetta Bain - 1
Lady M Dolores T. Richardson – 4 Lady Evelyn Lawrence - 4
Lady Carmen Jones-Carey – 7 Lady Lisa Bennett - 11
Lady Jovita Johnson – 19 Lady Dynise Perry - 11
Lady Karen D. Harris – 25 Lady Avice Warren - 12
Lady Celethia Passmore-Mack - 26 Lady Regina Sandilands - 25
Lady Felecia Townsend – 25
Lady Alfreda Curry-Jackson - 26

October
Lady Treva Burke-Harrell - 1
Lady Susan Cambridge - 1
Lady Mary Williams-Ervin - 4
Lady Ronda Simmons - 5
Lady Alondra Simmons - 10
Lady Shelia Henderson - 26
November
Lady Diane Alexander - 7
Lady Latoya Darbeau - 7
Lady Belinda Gordon-Battle -10
Lady Karen Reed - 15
Lady VerShona Dean - 22
Lady Arlenna Williams - 23
Lady Angela Staggers Washington - 27
December
Lady LaKeesha Morris-Moreau - 5
Lady Latoya James-Edwards – 16
Lady Trellany Parrish-Gay - 16

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to a
baker in town. One day the baker decided to weigh
the butter to see if he was getting the right amount,
which he wasn’t. Angry about it, he took the farmer
to court. The judge asked the farmer if he was using
any measure to weight the butter. The farmer
replied, “Your honor, I don’t have a proper measure,
but I do have a scale.” The judge asked, “Well how
do you weigh the butter?” The farmer replied; “Your
honor, long before the baker started buying butter
from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread
from him. Every day when the baker brings me the
bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same
weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the
baker.”
-Author Unknown
Bonus and moral of the story: In life, you get what
you give. Don’t cheat.

Sista’s Recipe
Submitted by Lady Willetta Bain
Healthy Buffalo Wings
Ingredients:
1 pound chicken wings 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 + ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ tsp paprika
3 tbsp virgin coconut oil 1 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash and pat dry each chicken wing. Dust with ½ teaspoon of the sea salt and
ground black pepper.
- Bake at 400 F for approximately one hour, or until golden brown and the skin is
hardened to the touch.
- While the chicken is baking, prepare the buffalo sauce in a small saucepan on the
stove. Whisk the coconut oil, vinegar, lemon juice, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder,
onion powder, and remaining 1 teaspoon of sea salt together. Let it simmer for 5
minutes then remove from heat. Whisk again just before using.
- When the chicken comes out of the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes then place in a
large bowl and pour the buffalo sauce over chicken. Stir and combine until each
wing is evenly coated. Serve alongside celery sticks.
Enjoy!

Cinnamon Jamila Key
Always in our thoughts;
Forever in our hearts…

Top Teens of America
Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter
The Executive Board
Teen Sanai Thomas-Abdoulaye, President
Teen Kelly Tomlin, 1 st Vice President
Teen Alexis Dean, 2 nd Vice President
Teen Marisa Bobo, Recording Secretary
Teen Macaya Cobb, Assistant Recording Secretary
Teen Antuan Rolle, Treasurer
Teen Travon Bastian, Financial Secretary
Teen Delya Harris, Chaplain

The Southern Pearl is a digital publication
produced by
Southern Pearls Miami-Dade Chapter
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.
Our goal and intent is to share information with our
membership and members of our service community.
We welcome your submissions.
Please send your announcements, accomplishments,
and other newsletter materials to the team by January 6, 2023.
Contact Publicists:
Lady Kathy L. Horton: klhorton45@gmail.com
Lady Arlenna Williams: tooleyaw@aol.com

Our Executive Board
Lady Regina Sandilands, President
Lady Christa Dotson Dean, 1 st Vice President
Lady Karen D. Harris, 2 nd Vice President
Lady Latoya Darbeau, Recording Secretary
Lady Dja Dugue-Wright, Assistant Recording Secretary
Lady Arlenna Williams, Corresponding Secretary
Lady Michele Paramore, Treasurer
Lady Alessandra G. Williams, Financial Secretary
Lady Lisa B. Bennett, Assistant Financial Secretary
Lady Kay Williams-Dawson, Chaplain
Lady Pamela Latimore, Parliamentarian
Lady Mary Williams-Ervin, Historian
Lady Dynise Perry, Sergeant-At-Arms
Newsletter Committee
Publicists: Ladies Kathy L. Horton and Arlenna Williams
Editors: Lady Susan Cambridge and Lady Lisa Bennett
Contributing Writers: Ladies Willetta Bain and Karen D. Harris

The Southern Pearl is published quarterly.
Next Publication Date:
January 23, 2023