Ebony Fashion fans will miss tour pioneered by Delta Soror Eunice Johnson

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After more than 50 years, the only thing the Ebony Fashion Fair will strike this season is its catwalk.

The world’s largest traveling fashion show has canceled its spring 2010 season because of the Jan. 3 death of Eunice Johnson, widow of Ebony magazine founder John Johnson.

Eunice Johnson had been touring nearly 200 cities annually since 1961 as the director and producer of the runway show aimed at black audiences.

The fashion show has a long history of bringing a taste of the trendy fashion culture to the Delta.

“For more than 30 years, the fashion show has been coming to Greenwood,” said Linda Thompson-Moore, president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Greenwood-Itta Bena Alumnae Chapter, which sponsors the annual event. “This is a cultural show for our community because it brings looks from across the world to Greenwood, and we were looking forward to another great year.”

Stops had been scheduled in Greenwood, Jackson, Biloxi, Tunica, Vicksburg and Columbus. The Greenwood show was to be held r April 2 at the Leflore County Civic Center.

The runway show brings the glitz and glamour of famous designers such as Christian Dior, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana and more to cities nationwide.

“I always love the different fashions because they are styles you wouldn’t normally see without going to a big city,” said Ruby Stanton of Greenwood. “Over the years, I have probably only missed three or four shows.”

Whether she plans to attend or not, Stanton said she always buys two tickets.

“I like to support Ebony magazine and the work that the Deltas do in our region,” Stanton said.

The Ebony Fashion Fair is not just a runway show; it is a fundraiser that has raised more than $55 million for charities nationwide. In Greenwood, the proceeds help provide college scholarships to students.

“We generally give out $10,000 in scholarship, and this is the biggest way for us to raise that money,” Thompson-Moore said.

In the past, the fashion fair has helped raise around $12,000 for the sorority’s work, Thompson-Moore said.

“In order for it not to impact our scholarships in May, we are going to have to do something else,” Thompson-Moore said. “We don’t want to deplete our funds and not be able to give out scholarships, especially with the economy.”

Although the sorority has not announced another event, members will be discussing another fundraising opportunity.

“We are in the process of planning something for the same evening we planned to do the fashion show,” Thompson-Moore said. “We just hope Ebony will pick us up in the fall if they do a tour then.”

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