By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

When asked by Commissioner Greg Dunn, one of the pageant judges, what she thought about winning, Ms. Mary Ann Walters 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.”

Walters, a resident at Southland since July 1998, was also the first runner-up in the Ms. Southland 1999 Beauty Pageant. Virginia Arnold, Ms. Southland 1999 winner, said, “She was first runner-up last year, so it's only right that she win this year! I hope she can go to state and win there.”

As the winner of the local competition, Walters will now compete with hundreds of other winners to be one of just over twenty contestants in the upcoming Ms. Georgia Nursing Home Pageant in May.

Louse White, Walters' best friend at Southland Nursing Home, was pleased her friend won. “Her mind was made up that she was going to win. She was so excited and thrilled to be in it and she is still excited and thrilled. I cried when she won.”

Ms. Walters is the mother of five children, has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Walters is very proud of her family and enjoys every minute they are together.

“Being a stay-at-home mom and being married to my husband for 46 years is the greatest career I could have chosen,” said Walters. “I do feel that the pay was low, but the rewards were great!”

She has lived in Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York and Ohio.

Walters was active in her local community theater in her home state of Tennessee. She continues to enjoy acting, and starred in “Murder in the Magnolias” at age 72.

She also taught gymnastics when her children were younger. She was active in community life, just as she continues to be active at Southland. She was a Pink Lady at a Chattanooga hospital, volunteered at a nursing home in Hartwell and East Point, and was a Girl Scout Leader.

She taught Sunday School for 18 years, sang in the church choir, volunteered to help at the church's clothes closet, directed the annual Children's Christmas Play and was the President of the Lutheran League.

She enjoys singing, writing poetry, dancing, acting and “reading good books.” She is active at Southland, participating in arts and crafts, Bible study, sing-a-longs, Reminensce, parties and special events.

It was apparent by the reaction from staff and nursing home residents that Walters is well thought of. The judges were impressed with her quick wit, her enthusiasm and her obvious love of life. Fellow pageant contestant and third runner-up Nadine Treantafilos congratulated Walters and said, “I think Mary Ann's wit and clever answers won her the crown.”

According to Lyn Williams, assistant activity director at Southland, “Ms. Walters is a vivacious lady who can charm your socks off when she sets her mind to it. At the pageant, six judges and a full audience left Southland without their socks!”

Angie Brown, activity director at Southland, noted, “Ms. Walters, with her charm, will be an excellent representative for Southland Nursing Home.”

Last year's winner, Virginia Arnold, and Julie Diana Dye, Teen Miss Georgia 2000, crowned Ms. Walters Ms. Southland 2000. The 17 year-old Dye 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.

Two Poems by Mary Ann Walters:

Dear God, she sighed, her eyes shut tight
Please make me see the wrong from right
`Cause the world we're in today,
It's so easy to go astray.
Show me what you'd have me do
And help my path stay always true.
Hear oh Lord, hear me pray
Hear oh Lord, my prayer today.
Amen

March 23, 2000

The Poem she recited to the judges:
Puppy Love
Igotta pain, hurts awful bad
Igotta pain, it makes me sad
That precious pain that won't go away
Seems to have come there yesterday
When a certain person turned to smile
And now it's paining all the while

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