Florida Memorial College - Arch Yearbook (Miami, FL)

Page 21 text:

THE CORONATION The crowning of Miss Florida Normal of 1960 by President R. W. Puryear. MISS FNIMC AND COURT! From left to right, 1st row: Miss Mary Williams, Miss Catherine Herring, Miss Bobbie Mervin, Miss Mary Johnson, Miss Rosa Ferguson; 2nd row: Miss Leila Holmes,; Miss Faye Easters, Miss Barbie Hart, Miss Viola Edwards, Miss Annie Pearl Griffin, Miss Mary Barnes, Miss Rosa Roberts; 3rd row: Pearline Quarry, Miss Aleane Miller, Miss Dor- othy Crawford, Miss Emma Kelley. Miss FNIMC : MISS GRACE JONES and escorts; Mr. Roy McKay and Mr. Claxton Pitman.

Page 20 text:

•JF -v i % LESLIE E. HARTLEY Psychology Ph D University of Colorado LAWRENCE C. BRYANT Education and Science Ed.D. University of Virginia JOHN G. CHAPMAN Social Science Ed.D. University of Houston S. A. ELAM English, Psychology M.S. Hunter College CHARLES R. COX Physical Education MA. West Virginia University J. A. WEBSTER Art M.S. North Carolina College NOT SHOWN A. B. WILLIAMS Mathematics M.Ed. University of Cincinnati GUY C. CRAFT Library Organization B.A. Morehouse College

Page 22 text:

THE GRAND EVENING OF THE CORONATION Ah! It was the loveliest of the evenings. It was the grandest of the evenings that never- to-be-forgotten twenty-third day of November in the year of one thousand nine hundred and fifty- nine. It was like a serene evening in magnificent Wonderland. Alas! A fairy tale came to life. This was a thing of admirable beauty; I was reminded of the sublime words of Sir John Keats: A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. That evening of the Coronation will never and can never be eradicated from the minds of those present. The coronation of Miss Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College was held in the spacious Heckscher Gymnatorium. It was not as beautiful as a King ' s mansion, but it was beauti- fully decorated for Our Queen, Lady Grace. In the center aisle was a lovely white carpet which led to the great white throne. Multi-colored lights added splendor and beauty; magnificent scented flowers filled the air, and the Queen ' s attractive throne caught the eye of each spectator. Oh, how lovely the evening ' The coronation commenced at eight o ' clock p.m. The spectators entered the gymnatorium and took their respective places among their fellowmen. The audience consisted of young ladies and gentlemen representing each dormitory on campus; the President and First Lady of the colelge; our most distinguished administrative and faculty staff, and wonderful friends of Florida Normal. Everybody was there! Now, as the audieice sat attentively glancing at the beauty of the scenery, music commenced to dissipate the quietness of the evening. Ah! Tell me what is more pleasant to the ear. Be- hold! How the adroit fingers of the pianist rolled swiftly across the keys of the musical instrument. The prelude concluded, and silence prevailed once again. Hark! a loud blast of the trumpet sounded as Eddie Taylor trumpeted away on the high-sounding trumpet. The audience watched as the sound died away, and out of nowhere leaped a tiny lad announcing the greatest of the events. Hear ye! hear ye! Tonight is the coronation of Miss Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College, heralded Sir Ivan Esquire Gsorge. War March of the Priests was being playad by the pianist, Mrs. Jackie Summers, and a line of lovely queens and their escorts marched uniformly upward and onward to the royal throne of white symbolizing purity. The various queen; approached the throne and stood on either side making way for the Queen of the College. There she stood like a heavenly angel arrayed in a beautiful white gown. I cannot discover words which can describe her beauty, charm, and ele- gance. She exemplified all of the qualities that a Queen ought to possess. Hail the Queen, Miss Grace Jones! She marched slowly and graceful to her throne; a sincere expression of gratitude on her fair face, and she seemed to say within: I am honored to be Queen of this outstanding Insti- tution of Learning. She ceased to go further as she approached the first step leading to the throne. This was the climax of the coronation — the crowning of Our Queen by President Puryear. What an honor! What a Queen! She ascended the throne with aid of two efficient, handsome, young men: Sirs C. Marco Pittman and R. McKay. The various queens took their places upon the throne. Lovely Queens, each a queen within her own rights. They were bedecked in gowns of pink, gold, white, red, yellow, and pale blue. The innumerable colors blended marvelously, creating a magnificent sight! Cornelius Smith sang for the Queen, and Ivan George recited the poem, How Do I Love Theer 5 by Elizabeth B. Browning. A creative dance was performed by the Dance Group under the direction of Miss June Ritter. These concluded the program of the evening. The various queens descended the throne and walked with a slow pace down the aisle to the rear of the gymnatorium. It was like a grand evening in Wonderland which seemed to disappear as the Queen descended the throne. This greatest of all evenings will last in our memories as days pass into weeks, months, and years. Ah! It was the loveliest of the evenings. That was the evening of Our Lady Jones. Long live the Queen of Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College 1 Ah! The evening of the Coronation was the grandest of them all!