Mary Ann

Walters, 76, was crowed Ms. Southland 2000 at the annual

Southland Nursing Home Beauty Pageant in Peachtree City

this year.

Walters,

who has lived at Southland for just over a year, was the

first runner up in the 1999 Ms. Southland competition.

She is the mother of five children, has five

grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Walters said

that being married to her husband for 46 years was the

greatest career she could have chosen. She enjoys

singing, writing poetry and reading good books.

Walters

also writes poetry. During the judging, she recited one

of her poems for the judges and visitors and talked about

her involvement in Southland's Mardi Gras Parade. Her

spirit, good humor, enjoyment in life and quick wit were

attributes the pageant judges mentioned as contributing

to their decision in choosing her for the honor.

When Judge

Chris Edwards, emcee of the pageant, announced she was

the winner, she gave her daughter a quick thumbs-up as

she was brought to the center stage. She didn't stop

beaming through all of the pictures, congratulatory hugs

and the subsequent reception.

Walters was

crowned Ms. Southland 2000 by last year's winner,

Virginia Arnold, and Julie Diana Dye, Teen Miss Georgia

2000. Dye, 17, is a junior in Peachtree City. In addition

to winning the title of Teen Miss Georgia, she was

crowned Miss North Atlanta and Miss Pride of Fayette

County in 1999.

When

Walters was asked by Commissioner Greg Dunn, one of the

pageant judges, what she thought about winning, she

replied, "I'm afraid to take a deep breath in case

it all goes away and the bubble bursts."

She told

another contestant, "This is the best moment of my

life."

The annual

event once again attracted a large crowd to watch ten

lovely ladies vied for the title of Ms. Southland.

Commissioner

Greg Dunn, Debra Fowler, Debbie Lenox, Janet McGregor,

Sen. Rick Price and Dr. Tom Williams had the difficult

job of choosing the winner of the contest. Judge Chris

Edwards was the official emcee, introducing each of the

contestants and posing questions to help the judges in

making a decision.

Each of the

contestants was introduced by Edwards and asked a

question or two or asked to show off a particular talent.

Hazel Buchanan, dressed in a beautiful purple outfit

complete with a matching hat, once again displayed her

talent of being able to spell words backward.

Edwards

tried to get Emma Harralson to give his name as the

answer when she was asked what the most beautiful sight

she had ever seen was, but she insisted her children were

better looking.

Nettie

Knight, 102, wasn't shy in letting everyone know that she

loved having her picture in the newspaper and that she

"wanted to win." Some of the ladies shared

their enjoyment in participating in activities at

Southland, such as the recent Mardi Gras Parade. Others

talked about their families and how various events, like

Pearl Harbor, had affected their lives.

In addition

to selecting Ms. Southland 2000, the judges chose four

runner-up awards. Lucille Johnson, 88, was the first

runner-up; Nettie Knight, 102, second runner-up; Nadine

Treantafilos, 78, third runner-up, and Yvette Pizar, 82,

was fourth runner-up.

Other

contestants included Hazel Buchanan, 87, Lucia Green, 92,

Emma Harralson, 80, Hazel Sampson, 74, and Teresa

Wimbish, 84.

The Kiwanis

Club of Peachtree City sponsored the annual beauty

pageant, making a generous donation to help with

expenses. Many volunteers also gave their time and

efforts to make the pageant a success. Mary Kay

representatives Jennifer Carroll, Jill Hughes, Cornine

Brown and Beauty Shop volunteers Diane Medlan, Beth

Ballard and Paula Peacock helped the ladies with their

makeup and hair. Robin Ballard and Jessica Malone gave

each of the entrants a manicure.

Precision

Trophy and Stallings Frame Shop donated the winners'

trophies and Nature's Nursery and Peachtree Florist gave

flowers for decorations and for each of the contestants.

Publix donated a cake for the reception after the award

ceremony. The well-known Ensemble Pour Deux entertained

the crowd with violin and harp music.

Once again

the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42 volunteered to

escort the contestants to the judging floor.

Walters

will be entered in the statewide Ms. Georgia Nursing Home

Association Awards in May. Twenty-two will be chosen from

over 250 winners throughout the state to compete in the

pageant.

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