Public Employee Press

Local 420 women hold a tea party

Usually, we celebrate Mother’s Day with cards, flowers and dinner as tokens of our love. But on Saturday, May 5, the ladies of Local 420 celebrated with a pre-Mother’s Day tea. The Women’s Committee of Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 sponsored the event and billed it as the “Sophisticated Ladies Social Program.”

Co-chair Patsy Carter presided and committee member Ursula Joseph served as the mistress of ceremonies. Minister Eunice Sebro offered the benediction and Committee Chair Anita Holder introduced keynote speaker Evangelist Edith Pledger of the Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church. She spoke about her work with the Prison Ministry’s outreach program. When Local 420’s own Geneva Burch read two of her poems, “Super Woman” and “In a Mother’s Absence,” the audience gave her their rapt attention.

Decked out in festive dresses, large bonnets and big smiles, the mothers, aunts, and grandmothers of Local 420 feasted on a special lunch menu, while a fashion show unfolded for their enjoyment. In a turn of the tables, the younger generation, dubbed “the Inkets,” got to serve instead of being served. “They wore aprons and uniforms and also got some lessons in etiquette,” said Holder.

“It was their day, and the mothers—along with the aunts and grandmothers—enjoyed themselves,” said Isabel Figueroa, 1st vice president of Local 420.