This past week I spend two days photographing parishioners at Zion Church Ministries in Everett, Massachusetts. They are a fun, lively and beautiful bunch of people.
This woman, Deaconess Lolithea Thompson, wears 14 karat gold fingernails. She had them custom designed and crafted by a jeweler. Each nail is emblazoned with a trinket or patterned texture. One of the thumbnails has a stud through the tip, around which a small gold flower twirls. How cool is that?!
Deaconess Lolithea Thompson - Used with permission
When Lolithea’s natural nails grow out she has to remove the gold nails, trim her natural nails, and re-affix the gold nails. She has had these nails for decades and is quite proud of them.
4 Comments for 14 Karat Gold Fingernails!
kickstand | 20090615 at 10:01
Author comment by Brent Danley | 20090615 at 10:17
@kickstand You mean like this guy? LOL.
I thought so, too. Few things about religion make sense. Every religion abounds in contradiction.
Sue Amero | 20090615 at 11:01
Sounds like one of your more interesting assignments, Brent. She seems like a neat woman. (and your Pope joke is funny!)
Author comment by Brent Danley | 20090615 at 11:34
@Sue Amero I always enjoy black and latino churches. The members are vibrant, spunky and come dressed to the hilt. Plus, they usually buy large canvas portraits. :)
Thank you, Ken and Sue, for your comments! ♥
That’s funny, I thought religious leaders were supposed to not put value on material things like gold.