Frankie’s Angels were born out of the love and concern for their favorite artist, Frankie Beverly. It all started back when Cynthia (Harris) was in search of a Maze fix. Her craving took her to the website of Frankie Beverly. Visiting the website and reading the entries became an addiction for her. She enjoyed reading all of the positive messages that the fans wrote. It did not take her long to realize that she was not the only one who truly loved this group. She started to post entries on the website. There were several people whose names continued to post entries. One such lady was Latanya Maiden.

One day Cynthia decided to e-mail Latanya. They both shared stories about their love for Frankie Beverly and Maze. The timing could not have been better. Cynthia discovered that Frankie was having some throat problems and was going to be out of commission for a short time, due to throat surgery. Believing in the power of prayer, Cynthia asked Latanya to become a prayer partner for the man they both loved so much. They were on a mission to inspire Mr. Beverly and to remind him that everything was going to be just fine. Other frequent visitors to the website joined in making encouraging remarks on the website.

Cynthia and Latanya called themselves Frankie’s Guardian Angels. The name was soon reduced to Frankie’s Angels. From these two angels, other fans were interested in how they, too could become one of Frankie’s Angels. A love for Frankie Beverly and a love for each other was the beginning of how Frankie’s Angels arrived on the scene.

Because the angels communicated via e-mail, they decided to meet face to face in Baltimore, Maryland in November of 2001. They had their first Angel Convention. Those in attendance were: Jimmy Carter, Cynthia Casteel, Debra Cooper, Gwen Criss, Patricia Heard, Latanya Maiden, Sandra Robinson, Betty Shaw, Connie Smiley, and the late Lilly Smith. The first time they met, they had a wonderful time, topped off with a Maze Concert and a visit backstage to see the one and only, Mr. Frankie Beverly. The second convention took place a year later in Washington, DC. Those who attended included: Betty Shaw ( Los Angeles California), Ronald Hutt (Denver, Colorado) Cynthia Casteel (Chesapeake City, Maryland), Carolyn Wilkerson (White Plains, New York) Reba Ratliff (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Consuela Smiley (Gaithersburg, Maryland), Sylvia Peoples (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Jimmy Carter (Washington, DC), Latanya Maiden (Fredericksburg, Virginia) Gwen Criss (Chicago, Illinois) the late Lilly Smith (Chicago, Illinois) Patricia Heard (Chicago, Illinois) Charles Casteel (Chesapeake City, Maryland) Sandra Robinson (Cleveland, Ohio) Arnetta Garner (Cleveland, Ohio) Walter Partee (Lewisburg, Tennessee) and Clarence (Nashville, Tennessee) and Tony Hodgkinson (United Kingdom).

The second meeting was absolutely wonderful, thanks to a visit from Frankie Beverly himself, followed by a Maze Concert at Constitution Hall and backstage passes with another visit from Frankie Beverly. Some of the originals received certificates declaring them as official Frankie’s Angels.

Years have passed and the angels have not met as a group. Many have gone their own separate way, but all are still true to the cause of loving Frankie Beverly and spreading those happy feelings. The angels have been involved both in individual as well as group projects such as:

• Christmas campaign to send troops in Iraq some happy feelings (gift baskets)

• Reaching out to one of the wives whose husband was shot and killed by the sniper by sending a basket of happy feelings

• Writing letters and website entries to encourage those who are in need of happy feelings

• Happy Feelings Wednesday (A day of the week to do something special for others, such as visit a nursing home or a prison)

• Helped the Katrina Victims