Elisia Speaks: 'So Very Proud!'

Elisa Black is daughter of Duboise and Jeannett Ball, granddaughter of Elnora Cross Bullock and EVERYBODY's favorite cousin!

Vincent (Vinnie) A. Corpening, 24

At some point, when I was not paying attention, my nephew Vinnie went from a scrawny, little awkward boy to a tall, gorgeous young man with a fantastic job that sustains him.

Vinnie and fiance Arielle Miller, 24

  

In just a few months, he will take a perfectly-suited women, Arielle, to be his bride. I will be there to share in this special moment. I’m so very proud!

Chelsea R. Corpening, 23

My niece Chelsea is a force of nature. She walks in a room and exudes a confidence and warmth only matched by the likes of her mother (Sharon Corpening) and grandmother (Eleanor Shelton).   

She’s sassy with curves that she knows how to work (work it girl!). It’s the kind of strut that makes skinny bitches want to eat a biscuit. I’m so very proud!

 

Jennifer (Jenny) Bachan, daughter of Marsha & James Elliott

The fact that my niece Jenny answers to me when I call her “Jen-a-mack-fur,” although she stands at almost six feet tall, pretty much says it all. With a really dry sense of humor and a high powered sense of style that you only obtain from living in a metropolitan city, she is one in a million. 

Jenny,27, and husband Mike Bachan,27

She married a wonderful man who seems, from all accounts, to be her best friend. With a strong work ethic, she has risen to a management position and, once again, I’m so very proud!

Ivana (Ivy) Elliott, 24, middle Elliott

Ivy is as sweet inside as she is pretty outside. The beauty of Ivy is that her beauty isn't of much importance to her but her deeds certainly are. She -- like Chelsea, Sharon C, Aunt El and Aunt Henrietta -- is a natural nurturer. Her July 4^th cakes are legendary and she has met a wonderful man that loves her and he better marry her soon. (YEAH I SAID IT DAN!!) She also will follow a family tradition by beginning her professional career in teaching this summer. I’m so very proud!

James Elliott, Jr., 22, youngest Elliott

James,Jr. is the not the spoiled, entitled young man you would expect being the youngest boy of an established family. Not my nephew! He is one of the most socially conscious young men I know. 

He has a passion for hip hop and writing and, now “Love and Hip Hop” (don’t  judge him, I watch it too). He is opinionated as all get out (a family trait) and, now that he has graduated from the University of Chicago and returned to New York, I’m excited to see what he will do next. I’m so very proud!

Sorry, Sharon. I know this is a blog not a book but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my sister Marsha Elliott, her hubby James, Sr., and my cousin Sharon C. Ladies and gentleman you did it, you raised wonderful Black men not the stereotype of our black men and confident strong women. Please take a bow!!

You, too, Lisa! 

Lisa's son, Erik (Scoop) Smith, Jr. (alias, EJ), 28, was recently discharged from active duty in the U.S. Air Force and is now a service engineer for Mazak Corporation in Dallas, TX. He's married to Tiffany and is the courageous father of two boys, Erik, Jr. and Major.

He and his cousins -- including Morgan Miller, Ashon Miller, Ashley Young, Vicky Miller, Taylor Shelton, Erik Shelton, Jr., Sean Shelton, Ella Shelton, Iyana Ball, Mark and Jerrell Ball  -- are, collectively, the reason all our generation of Cross-Bullocks are so very proud!