Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA)

Page 29 text:

D. Ten semifinalists — including Marissa Lathrop. Dotty Jo Brown, Michelle Har- rison, Marites Carnes, Altricia Payton, Melanie Nelson, Mitzi McDonell, Carol Lindsey, Leecy Davis, and Secily Wilson — smile for the audience. E. Finalist Dotty Jo Brown pauses for a moment before answer- ing the question presented by emcee Jerry Purvis. F. Karessa Bass models a ruffled jumpsuit for casual wear competition. G. Contestant number seventeen, Cathy Burnette, models a green-sequined dress dur- ing evening gown competition. H. Carol Williams entertains the audience, while con- testants backstage hastily change into casual 25 — Photography by Mr. Bill Duke —

Page 28 text:

Southern Beauty Mitzi McDonell Wins Miss VHS Crowi With its jazzy Southern Nights theme song and elegant plantation setting, the Miss VHS Beauty Pageant took on an at- mosphere of excitement as thirty junior and senior girls made their initial promenades. Framing the Southern mansion backdrop, a large tree and a garden of greenery gave each contestant an elegant background against which to model her apparel. Appropriately enough, the judges’ choice was professional model Mitzi McDonell, a junior and an employee of Eileen Mitchell’s Models and Talent. In responding to a question posed by Jerry Purvis, Junior Class President and emcee of the contest, Miss McDonell in- dicated that she would be going to New York in the summer to interview with various modeling agencies. Besides the Southern beauties, the pageant also featured entertainment. Highlighting the singing by Carol Williams, Jim Rensenhouse, and Debbie Willis was Miss Williams' version of Sweet Georgia Brown.” B A. Miss VHS 1983, Mitzi McDonell, poses for naming of runners-up. C. With a sparkling smile Harrison, first runner-up Dotty Jo Brown, thir photographs after the pageant. B. Secily Wilson and tiara. Miss McDonell poses with other runner-up Melanie Nelson, and fourth runnel blissfully embraces Dotty Jo Brown after the finalists, including second runner-up Michelle up Secily Wilson.

Page 30 text:

Prom Lights Up a Night” Twinkling stars on blue backgrounds decorated the room as formally attired juniors and seniors strolled with their dates into the city auditorium's multi- purpose room for the Junior-Senior Prom. Even the weather enhanced the prom's Southern Nights theme, with May 7 being a typically warm South Georgia evening. To make the evening special, many couples had dinner out before arriving at the auditorium around eight. Girls in antebellum gowns and their tuxedo-clad dates added to the elegant atmosphere as couples danced to the music of Brine Holmes and Friends until midnight. A