The Epsilon Theta Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. held its annual Finer Womanhood banquet on March 13. This year’s theme was “Blazing Paths with Elegance.” Four women were honored for their community service, leadership and achievements.

The youngest honoree, Armani Milteer, is a fourth-grader at Kilby Shores Elementary School. She is a member of the Zeta Youth Affiliates Group, the Amicettes Club. She was inducted into the group summer of 2013, served as vice president of the club and attended the Eastern Regional Leadership Conference. She is also part of the Ladies of Distinction, and participated in the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign with T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home. She is active in her church, Mt. Ararat Christian Church. She is the daughter of Denise Milteer and Ricardo Faulk.

Essence Frazier, a junior at Lakeland High School and member of the Archonette Club, was selected as Zeta Archonette of the Year. Essence has served as vice president for the Archonette Club and attended leadership conferences for the state and region. She has participated in the youth’s elder care project of delivering new blankets and socks to the patients at Autumn Care and donated food items to New Hope Baptist Church for the annual holiday food baskets for families in need. She also assists with the Youth Ministry at her church, Mt. Ararat Christian Church. She is the daughter of Michael and Lakita Watson.

Janice Davis was awarded the Zeta Amicae of the year, given each year to a member of the local chapter of Friends Auxiliary. A native of Suffolk, she worked with the Virginia Cooperative Extension for many years and served on many nutritional boards for the city of Suffolk. She also won the award in 2011. She has three adult children and four grandchildren.

Lakita S. Watson was recognized as Zeta of the Year 2015. Watson was raised in downtown Suffolk and nurtured by her mother and grandmother. A 1992 graduate of Lakeland High School she received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Norfolk State University. She later started working for Suffolk Parks and Recreation as a part-time recreation leader, after which she rose through the ranks to become director of that department. Watson has five children, including fellow honoree Essence Frazier. She also sits on many boards, from recreational to civic league, in the city.

The Rev. Sylvia Copeland-Murphy, 2014 winner of the Woman of the Year award, told attendees Watson’s character is like the wind — it’s something no one ever sees but can feel, destructive in nature but ready to reconstruct and restore.

Dr. Sherie Davis, the chapter’s president, spoke about how she put Watson in charge of reviving the youth sector of the organization. It increased from three registered members to 25 in the summer of 2013.