OUR GUESTS

Lanette Gass is Married to Lorenzo Gass (23yrs) and was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She has lived in SC for 25 years, she has 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Lanette works in Healthcare Finance and is currently employed as the Revenue Director at Coopertive Health Community Health Center. Lanette also the Managing Partner of Exclusuv Group Investment and Holding company and owner of Exlusive 4 Today.

She met Sybil and Tony about 6 years ago through Capital City Club, and she’s so glad to be a part of this Wonderful! Celebration.

Alexia was born and raised in Northern Virginia. After graduating from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), Alexia began working in distribution sales at PepsiCo., a job that ultimately brought her to Columbia, South Carolina. Alexia joined The Capital City Club in 2019, where she met Tony and Sybil. In her free time, Alexia enjoys watching football, traveling to the beach, and socializing at Capital City Club - of course! In 2022, Alexia turned her hobby into a career, and now serves as the Membership Director of The Capital City Club.

Irma McClaurin, MFA/PhD/HPhD

In guiding institutions to facilitate the inclusive participation and leadership of Blacks, women, and other people of color, Dr. Irma McClaurin has been addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in significant ways long before DEI work became commonplace. Her career path has included service as past president of Shaw University, Chief Diversity Officer at Teach For America, Ford Foundation Program Officer and various college faculty positions such as the first Black faculty tenured in Anthropology at the University of Florida where she was a professor/mentor of the bride, Dr. Sybil Rosado. Dr. McClaurin was also the first Black faculty in Anthropology at her alma mater, Grinnell College (1991-1995), which awarded her a 2023 Honorary Doctorate of Social Studies, and also was the first Black professor tenured in Anthropology at the University of Minnesota (2008). At UMN, she was an Associate VP and founding Executive Director of the first Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC). Today a senior consultant, McClaurin works with science museums, nonprofits, city governments, international agencies, and coaches individuals. She is Editor of the award-winning Black Feminist Anthropology: Theory, Politics, Praxis, and Poetics and in 2015, the Black Press of America named her “Best in the Nation” columnist, while her poetry is published in over 16 magazines and anthologies. In 2016, she founded the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at University of Massachusetts Amherst, and her iconic photographs of James Baldwin and his mother have appeared on Good Morning America while Essence Magazine just published her photo of Toni Cade Bambara.

en Alexander-Banks, "Auntie Karen" is a serial entrepreneur icated to arts and education. She is married to Kevin Banks ether, they share a fur baby, Miles Alexander Banks She is the us mom to 3 amazing adults (Kayla, Kevin, and Kelli) and the ntie to many. Karen Is the founder of The Auntie Karen ndation, a global 501(c) 3 based in Columbia, South Carolina.

Linda Paige is a retired technology executive working 30+ years on corporate business solutions. While the majority of her career was in Washington, DC, Linda grew up in Columbia, SC. She received degrees from the University of South Carolina (BA), the University of Georgia (MPA), and George Washington University (MS) Linda is an avid volunteer currently serving on the boards of the US Tennis Association of SC, Auntie Karen Foundation (AKF), Northeast Democrats, Wyndham’s King Street Property, and the Board of Visitors of USC’s School of Arts and Sciences. In addition to volunteering, Linda enjoys traveling with her family, tennis and reading Linda and Sybil met through their joint relationship with The Auntie Karen Foundation..

I am a mature law graduate of George Washington University Law School having received my JD in 1971 As a young lawyer, I worked for the Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Divisions where I handled school desegregation cases and one significant Title 9m case against the Univ of Alaska.

I have known Sybil Rosado all of her life as I was a childhood friend of her mother Sybil Karen, her Aunt Sydel and her Aunt Sandra. Sybil was one of my early employees during the time she thought she wanted to be a police officer.

I an a widow with one son, Will, who graduated law school from my alma mater in 2020 and practices with me We handle probate, divorces and contracts

Leeshu Kennedy is the sister of the groom, Tony (Lemuel) Kennedy She is a long-time resident of Atlanta, GA Leeshu loves supporting people, and is currently program director at the Women of Gilgal, a long-term recovery residence for women who became homeless due to drug and alcohol addiction. She is former manager of government affairs at MARTA, and is a transportation consultant with Planners for Environmental Quality (PEQ). Leeshu loves the outdoors and you can find her running, biking, traveling with friends, and enjoying the sun She is committed to going on medical mission trips to support doctors and dentists who provide needed healthcare to God's children, and has traveled to Ethiopia three times and Haiti.

Shanquel Young (@melodic diary on Instagram) is a powerhouse first alto second soprano, with a range that belies her small frame. While she began singing gospel in the church at age three, she now performs all musical genres that include R&B, soul, and Neo-soul. She has competed on American Idol and America’s Got Talent, seeking that opportunity that will allow her to follow her passion for singing full time

Dr Sydel LeGrande, born in Tampa Florida in 1957, grew up there through the tumultuous 1960’s Becoming a doctor was neither encouraged nor expected for a young Black girl, but her mother reminded her that all things were possible. She supported and encouraged a bold 4 year old who proclaimed she was a doctor Sixteen years later, that impossible dream became a reality Building on the belief that education was the key to her success, Dr. LeGrande began taking college courses in the 9th grade. Upon graduation, she was the first student ever to receive both a high school diploma and AA degree at the same time, enrolling at the University of South Florida as a 16 year old premed junior. In 1978, she began her medical education at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, and completed her Family Practice residency in Family practice at the Medical College of Georgia in August GA In 1985, she worked in an urban community clinic in Liberty City in Miami, FL to fulfill her NHCS obligation. There she learned to treat the whole person ( wholistic medical care) before terms like “Holistic” and “integrative” medicine were coined For over 35 years, her mantra has been to treat the whole person: spirit, soul and body. In the late 1980’s, she partnered with her husband, a personal trainer and competitive body builder, to open Precision Health Medical and Fitness Center in Miami, FL and Keys to Health in the Florida Keys, FL In 1993, they opened Your Place Medical and Fitness Center, after recovering from Hurricane Andrew destruction. In 2009, they returned to Tampa and opened Compassion Care for Pain and Injury Following her husband’s death in 2012, Dr LeGrande started Your Place Health Systems, LLC and today operates Altogether Lovely Mind and Body Restorative Center Lake Nona taking personal care and medically supervised fitness to a new level, with plans to expand

Pamela Bynoe-Reed is a Marketing and Communications Executive out of Columbia, SC leading community affairs at the public transportation system, The COMET

She met Tony and Sybil through her bestie, Cheryl Gloster, who grew up with Tony. Fun fact: Pam is Sybil’s Soror!

Pamela Bynoe-Reed is a Marketing and Communications Executive out of Columbia, SC leading community affairs at the public transportation system, The COMET.

She met Tony and Sybil through her bestie, Cheryl Gloster, who grew up with Tony Fun fact: Pam is Sybil’s Soror!

James Hurt, Jr. has known Dr. Sybil Rosado since 1988 when she was a student at FAMU and he was at TSU. It was not until they both participated in the mock United Nations that they became fast friends. He takes credit for persuading her to apply to Vanderbilt Law School. James describes Dr. Sybil as his confidant, sister, and surrogate stepmom to his children since his wife passed away. They have remained constant friends and supported each other through major life transitions. For inspiration he relies upon James 1:19–“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” In other words, just listen!

Cynthia Prince is a principle and Executive Director of Midlands STEM Institute in Winnsboro, SC. Her paths crossed with Dr. Sybil Rosado at events at Benedict College; they rapidly became friends such that Ms. Prince became godmother to her children. As a former Special Education teacher, she is a strong advocate for all children, but especially those with special needs, and believes that all children have talents that just need nurturing. In her “free time,” she is a real estate investor and runs several AirBnBs in Columbia, SC.

Sierra Prince is an artist and 2021 graduate of Irmo High School in Columbia, SC. She like working with her hands and now restores antique furniture. She met Dr. Sybil Rosado through her mother, Cynthia Prince, who was pregnant with her in 2002. Since birth, she has become a regular family friend and surrogate big sister to Dr. Sybil’s children, even being the occasional babysitter. For her Dr. Sybil is a role model who exudes joy in life. Ultimately, Sierra believes that everything is possible, and in God’s hands.

Alicia Lafontaine

CRAIG ROSADO

SONIA ROSADO

BARBARA MANN

JAMILIA HODGES

JOSE DELIO ORTIZ

JUANA LAFONTAINE

Hi! I’m Sophia.