By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Patricia Evans took her three grandchildren, her great-granddaughter, three nieces and a nephew to the annual community Christmas party at the J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 Friday night.
It was the first year they had been, Evans said, and the children absolutely loved it. “They were so excited to the point that at 1 o’clock this morning, they were still excited,” she said. “They wanted to go back.”
The two youngest ó her 19-month-old grandson, Chance “G Baby” Bryant, and her 9-month-old great-granddaughter, Zequara “Little Bit” Crawford ó sat on Santa Claus’ lap at the same time.
“G Baby (short for ‘Good Baby’) wasn’t afraid of Santa at all,” she said, “but Little Bit whimpered a little bit.”
Evans and her husband, Charles, are raising their grandchildren as well as caring for their 37-year-old Down syndrome son, so she tries to take the younger children to holiday activities in the community whenever she can.
Many of the 200 children at the party lined up to talk to Isaiah Goodman, who was filling in for Santa Claus at the party.
April Butler stood in line with her 2-month-old son, Avanti Japri “A.J.” Butler, to get his very first picture taken with Santa.
“This is great,” she said. “Pictures are so expensive nowadays.”
Butler just graduated from Livingstone College with a sociology degree and is looking for a job.
Seven-year-old Joshua Joyce colored a picture of Santa Claus while waiting for him to arrive. Joshua said he wants an Xbox and/or an Mp3 player for Christmas. Though Post 107 members have been holding their annual Christmas party for about 30 years now, Friday was the first night they received help from the Diamond Divas.
Wearing red Santa hats and black “Diamond Diva” T-shirts, members of the social group served hot dogs, cookies and drinks, manned stations of children’s games and passed out gifts.
“We’re young black women trying to make a difference,” said Diva Kim Gibson. Talida McCain started the social group to help with different events in the community.
Gibson said the best part of Friday night’s party was watching the children dance to the music provided by deejay Wade Murphy.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.