It was an afternoon to reflect on the past and celebrate the future of area young women at the Rosa T. Beard Debutante Club’s 60th anniversary cotillion March 29 at the Bell Auditorium.
A commemorative video highlighted previous cotillions and a founding club member reflected on her experience as part of the club, which began in 1963 when schools were still segregated. Rosa T. Beard taught at A.R. Johnson and formed a club for her students. Read more about the club’s history here. The first cotillion was in 1965.
“We had teachers who believed in all that we could be and could achieve, and they created opportunities for us,” said Patricia Wilker, one of the club’s founding members.
And members followed their mentors’ leads.
“A lot of us have gone onto mentor girls and create opportunities because of what they did for us,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
