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Wednesday, March 6, 2002 Southland contestants fight battle of nerves By JANET
McGREGOR
Nine women competed on Saturday for the title "Ms. Southland." Each year ladies at Southland Nursing Home in Peachtree City vie for the title and the crown. On the day of the pageant getting ready is the focus of the contestants' day. Nails are done, hair is fixed and coiffed, and finally, their best party or Sunday dress is donned with extra care to ensure makeup is not mussed. Then comes the difficult part the waiting. They line up down the hall, chatting with family members and getting last minute touch-ups. They watch as the room fills with visitors and the judges come walking in. The handsome Marines, their uniforms in tip-top shape, begin to line up and the ladies know it's almost time for their time in front of the audience and judges. Although they have rehearsed the event, nerves are tight as they wait for their chance on stage. Finally, it is their turn to be escorted to the stage by a member of Marine Aviation Logistic Squadron 42. This year, the ladies all seemed to have a spry sense of humor, making the crowd laugh on many occasions. Questions were posed by Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards, his third time as emcee. The contestants were judged on personality and physical appearance in relation to age, ability to communicate and alertness, participation in nursing home activities, attitude toward life and their excitement about being in the pageant. Eight judges had the difficult job of determining who would take top honors. Dr. Tom Williams, Peter Pfeifer, Greg Dunn, Janet McGregor, Cappie Glanton, Dave Edmondson, Debra Fowler and Richard Carlisle graded each woman individually a total of all scores were tallied to arrive at the winners. Six of the nine contestants had entered the contest in previous years, the remainder were first-timers. All are active in nursing home activities, participating in exercise, arts and crafts, Bible study, music, cooking classes and parties. Parties seemed to be the favorite activity for all of the entrants. After answering questions and bantering back and forth with the emcee and judges, they enter the time that is often most difficult the wait to see who will take the crown. Lottie Abbott, 71, was overjoyed to be selected as the winner of this year's pageant. She said initially she did not want to enter the contest, feeling she was too young. Her granddaughter cleared up that objection, telling her that wasn't true she was old. Her granddaughter was on hand to watch as she answered questions and ultimately won. Nadine Treantafilos was first runner-up, followed by Ruby Preston, Alice Brouillette and Ira "Mimmie" Cawthon. A special presentation was made to the Marines in memory of MGySgt. Michael E. Bussier, who had been an annual volunteer at the event for five years, escorting the women to and from the stage. Shortly after last year's event Bussier was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away. During a tearful presentation, Angie Brown and Debbie Azzarelli of Southland spoke highly of Bussier and presented the Marines with a plaque and a scrap book commemorating his five-year involvement in the pageant.
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