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Triangle Friends Of African American Arts Presents Durham’s Diamond Diva’s Birthday Celebration

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

The Diamond Diva Ladies of Durham celebrated three birthdays and one Diamond Diva relocating to Maryland with a beautiful luncheon in their honor at Hayti Heritage Center recently. The luncheon was hosted by Sherri Holmes, founder of Triangle Friends of African American Arts, and was attended by friends and family of the Diamond Diva Ladies. What a great fellowship of history, fortitude, and smiles!

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Pictured (left to right, seated)is Edna Mason (age 98, born 1918); Lou Barnes (age 96, born 1922); Catherine Ferrell (age 105, born 1912); and Maggie Bryant (age 103, born 1915). Standing (left to right) is Mildred Page (age 93, born 1924); Hortense McClinton (age 99, born 1918, who is relocating to Maryland; was also first black professor hired to teach at U. of North Carolina Chapel Hill) and Vivian Patterson (age 96, born 1922).

The Diamond Diva Ladies of Durham includes members ranging in age from ninety-three to one hundred and five years of age. Pictured (left to right, seated) is Edna Mason (age 98, born 1918); Lou Barnes (age 96, born 1922); Catherine Ferrell (age 105, born 1912); and Maggie Bryant (age 103, born 1915). Standing (left to right) is Mildred Page (age 93, born 1924); Hortense McClinton (age 99, born 1918, who is relocating to Maryland; was also first black professor hired to teach at U. of North Carolina Chapel Hill) and Vivian Patterson (age 96, born 1922).

The Triangle Friends of African American Arts ​(Triangle FAAA) strives to expand awareness, understanding and support of African American arts and artists. Triangle FAAA hosts educational and social programming throughout the Triangle including art exhibition tours, dinners, group attendance at performances and special events. 

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All-Nite Public Radio

Triangle FAAA’s next outing is All-Nite Public Radio Concert on July 14 at 7 pm in Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park (Cary).

All-Nite Public Radio (ANPR) is a jazz fusion band with roots in Durham. The band derives its name from the ability to play different musical styles; listening to ANPR is like pushing scan on your radio at night, you never know what you’ll hear. It is the black experience brought to life through jazz, soul, funk, r&b, hip hop, gospel, and rock. Although there is variety in the styles of music, the common theme in ANPR is improvisation. That means the music is spontaneous. 

The members bring more than 122 combined years of experience to the stage. Founded by pianist/composer Victor Moore, ANPR is as a sounding board: a place where the band members can create whatever they feel, however they feel. Their music is authentic and tasteful.

For more information, visit http://www.africanamericanarts.org/