March 21, 2019 – Six contestants competed in the annual Ms.
Senior Care Center-St. Marys pageant on March 5, 2019, with Juanelle Mann, 89, winning the 2019 title.
Later this spring, Mann will go on to compete for the state title at the
Ms. Georgia Health Care Association Pageant in Atlanta.
A full-house of family, friends, residents and staff assembled to cheer
on the contestants as they were escorted to the stage by Lt. Chris Winkle,
St. Marys Police Department. Event emcee Dr. Vivian Mitchell, teacher,
Sugarmill Elementary School, introduced each contestant and asked the
interview questions.
To crown a winner, judges awarded points on the contestants’ overall
appearance, personality, and attitude towards life, as well as responses
to questions about their life’s special moments and who they admired most.
Originally from Waycross, Ga., Mann’s favorite activity is coloring
and her hobbies include painting and embroidery. When asked about her
life’s special moments, Mann shared when her husband asked her on
their first date.
“He called my office, and when I didn’t answer, he called my
home six times. I wasn’t interested, so I asked my mother to give
me a 10 p.m. curfew,” said Mann. “But when he picked me up,
he was so handsome in a beautiful blue suit and, suddenly, I didn’t
want to be home by 10 p.m. We married and had three children: two sons
and a daughter.”
First runner-up was Joanne Becker, 68, who enjoys coloring, reading, bingo
and exercising. Her life’s special moments were graduating from
high school, getting married and adopting their son.
Theresa Budzinski, 89, was the second runner-up. She enjoys word puzzles,
knitting, board games and puzzles. Her life’s special moment was
the day she had her children. “I still remember it like it was yesterday,”
she shared.
Other contestants included: Brandi Smith, 46, who enjoys singing, Zumba,
bingo, exercise class and coloring; Joyce Myers, 85, whose life’s
special moment was renewing her wedding vows; and Annie Roberts, 82, whose
hobbies include watching movies, shopping, hanging out with Red Hat Friends
and enjoying the company of her grandchildren.
This year’s pageant judges included Dr. Fostina Mitchell, Camden
County Schools, retired; Peggy Shoemaker, Camden Country Schools, retired;
Sharon Slaton, Georgia State President of Eagles Auxiliary; Nina McEachin,
operations coordinator, North Florida OB/GYN, retired; and Paula Veno,
nursing tech, level 3, Wellstar Health Systems, retired. Music was provided
by Leon Mack, saxophonist, and the pageant was coordinated by Liz Brown,
activities specialist, Senior Care Center-St. Marys.