The annual

Ms. Southland Beauty Pageant is a volunteer effort by the

staff at Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City and

numerous community volunteers. The event seems to touch

volunteers in such a way that they return year after year

to help. It is obvious when watching the contestants that

it is an exciting day and has a lot of meaning to them.

"The involvement we

receive from the community makes this pageant very

special to our residents and staff," stated Angie

Brown, activity director at Southland. "All the

great support makes this a fun and exciting event."

The 2000 Pageant attracted

ten contestants: Hazel Buchanan, 87; Lucia Green, 92;

Emma Harralson, 80; Lucille Johnson, 88; Nettie Knight,

who turned 103 on April 1;; Yvette Pizar, 82; Hazel

Sampson, 74; Nadine Treantafilos, 78; Mary Ann Walters,

76; and Lecy Blue, 89.

The contestants had their

hair, nails and makeup done by local hair stylists,

manicurists and beauty experts. Ensemble pour deux

serenaded the crowd with their beautiful music.

Stallings Frame Shop and

Precision Trophy donated trophies for all of the

contestants, Publix donated a large decorated cake, and

Nature's Nursery and Peachtree Florist contributed

decorations and corsages.

"I was impressed with

the community, staff, volunteer and family member

participation," said Southland administrator Gary

Massengale. "Everyone had a good time."

Members of the Marine

Aviation Logistic Squadron 42 escorted the pageant

contestants to and from the judging area. Judge Chris

Edwards served as emcee for the event, engaging the

ladies in conversation and asking questions that helped

the judges in making their tough choices.

Contestants were judged on

personality and physical appearance in relation to age,

ability to communicate and alertness, participation in

nursing home activities and their attitude toward life.

The Kiwanis Club of

Peachtree City has been a long-time sponsor of the annual

event. They donate funds to help cover incidentals and

have participated in the event when possible.

The judges for the contest

were Dr. Tom Williams, retired regional director of the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Senator

Rick Price; County Commission Vice Chairman Greg Dunn;

"First Lady" of Peachtree City Mrs. Debbie

Lenox; The Citizen Prime Timer writer and owner of JMac

Marketing, Janet McGregor; and Debra Fowler. All of the

judges, with the exception of Ms. Fowler, have judged the

pageant in previous years.

The winner of the Ms.

Southland 2000 Beauty Pageant, Mary Ann Walters, will

compete against hundreds of other local nursing home

winners for a spot in the Ms. Georgia Nursing Home

Pageant that will be held in May.

Nadine Treantafilos, 3rd

Runner Up in the pageant, summed up the event when she

said, "The whole pageant was well done and a lot of

fun."

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