• 43°
Hartselle Enquirer

Seniors crown a gorgeous grandma

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Some wore prairie gowns and bonnets, clutching white gloves as they walked slowly across the stage. Others wore glamorous evening gowns with sequins and sparkles while others wore their Sunday best resplendent with feathered hats and decorated walking sticks.
One brought her ukulele on stage and another took off her jacket on stage, tossing it over her shoulder in a perfect imitation of a runway model.
But the ladies making their way across the stage at Sparkman Civic Center weren’t your typical beauty pageant contestants. Instead, they were 38 “Gorgeous Grandmas” competing in a pageant hosted by the Hartselle Park and Recreation Department.
The event brought out hundreds of senior citizens, family members and other visitors who enjoyed the pageant, clapping loudly for their favorites and hooting their pleasure over the participant’s poses.
The pageant was open to women ages 60 and older. Escorted by members of the Hartselle Fire Department, the participants walked across the stage. Judged selected five finalists, Ann Kellett, Vina Wallace, Jean Porter, Lettie Glenn and Vivian Summerford. Each of them were asked a question.
Wallace was the first to respond to emcee Kenny Thompson. Thompson asked her when she first realized she was beautiful. She responded that she was still waiting to realize that fact, prompting laughter from the audience. Other finalists answered questions such as person they would most like to have dinner with and what the role of grandmothers should be.
In the end, tossing her jacket over her shoulder paid off for Jean Porter, who won the Gorgeous Grandma pageant. First runner up was Ann Kellett; second runner up was Vivian Summerford; third runner-up was Luttie Glenn; and fourth runner-up was Vina Wallace.
Other participants were: Gayle Childers, Betty Fuqua, Velma Boldin, Vera Miller, Maria Gogliordo, Irene Wells, Zipp Tankersley, Jo Ann Johnson, Catherine Burgess, Gwynell Taylor, Frances Downs, Dixie Rylant, Bea Chaney, Rebecca Zean, Movlyn Roberson, Thelma Mattox, Judy McClellan, Brenda Flowers, Cecile Prieve, Kathy Rollins, Ella Franks, Maville Oden and Peggy Callahan.

At a Glance

PowerGrid Services in Hartselle evacuated for bomb threat

Morgan County

20 under 40: Trey Chowning

Falkville

20 under 40: TJ Holmes

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Spencer Bell

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Shelby Keenum

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Rachel Howard

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Mary Virgina Halbrooks

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Maggie McKelvey

Decatur

20 under 40: Maegan Jones

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Lindsey Tapscott

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

‘He lets us have sex’: More details emerge on Hartselle man accused of child exploitation 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle church creates Easter-themed escape rooms 

Danville

Family tradition: State livestock show legacy spans generations

Editor's picks

Baseball for Beau: More than $8k raised for scholarship named after Hartselle child  

Falkville

20 under 40: Lela Weeks

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Kalleigh Thomas

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Jaime Hatcher

Hartselle

Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

At a Glance

Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

x