Come Sunday Morning ~

African American Women with HATTITUDE

Inspired by the book COME SUNDAY MORNING, Rita Morgan, Author

    RITA MORGAN is a nationally recognize, award-winning milliner and fashion professional based in Dallas, Texas.  For more than twenty years, Rita has been deeply committed to supporting her church and community, and to keeping alive the tradition of women dressing  up for church.  With the strength and savvy of her husband and business manager Coy behind her, Rita has achieved great success in retail and fund-raising.

    Rita's fabulous fashions can be seen at her store, Rita's Couture Collection, at 3917 Camp Wisdom Road in Dallas, Texas.  Rita and Coy are the proud parents of one daughter, Brandi, and three grandchildren - Toi, Brandon, and Colby.  They are members of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park.  God has opened up windows and poured countless blessings upon them - and to Him they are eternally thankful.

    In my heart, there has long been a burning desire to tell the stories of the many women who shop at my store in order to dress their best on Sunday mornings.  I knew there was something distinct about their experiences, these women who would never be caught without their hats, suits, gloves, and shoes to match. 

     I needed to tell of these women who walk down the aisles of their churches on Sunday mornings, making grand entrances and unforgettable exits.  I needed to divulge the customs of these ladies who would do hair all week long, and then would have a hard time washing the dye off of their hands - but on a Sunday morning, still they would go before the Lord decked in their very finest.

    The women depicted here do not dress in high style just for the sake of dressing.  They do so because they are entering the house of the Lord, and they would never think of visiting Him in anything less than their very best.

    As you view these wonderful photographs, you are helping to celebrate a way of living.  Many churches have recently instituted "Casual Sundays," encouraging their congregations to dress down, yet the women of this exhibit hold fast to their signature attire for worship.  I hope, in some way, sharing their stories will help continue this tradition.

    Over the years, we as African Americans have lost so much.  Let us not lose the desire to go before the Lord at our very best.  We dress up for Saturday night - let us still put on our finest...Come Sunday Morning.

- Rita Morgan