LILESVILLE — Helping Others Love Themselves recently held its third annual Master and Miss Coppertone Educational Pageant and Banquet at the Lilesville Star Lodge No. 603.

Four students from Anson County who attend Project SUCCESS, the academic component of HOLT, and two students from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system participated in the gala.

Gloria B. Smith opened the gala by explaining HOLT’s mission statement and its purpose. She said the group’s mission is to educate, enhance and empower others to reach their fullest potential.

The purpose of HOLT is to encourage happy and healthy lives by providing services and events to lessen the burdens of families throughout Anson County and surrounding areas and to make a difference in the fight against hunger, health morbidity, obesity and lack of clothing and education.

The pageant gives participants the experience of public speaking, grace, poise, punctuality, confidence, respect, cooperation and other facets of culture to empower youths of Anson County and the surrounding area, according to organizers. Proceeds allow the group to contribute to charities, civic needs and eventually, to fund scholarships.

After the opening expressions, the gala continued with a welcome from Neveah Barnes, Jerlonda S. Jefferies, Helena L. McRoyal and Zamiana C. Pickett. The character pledge was given by all students in attendance.

Notes of encouragement readings were read by Joyce Chance, grandmother of Neveah Barnes, and Avis Rorie, mother of Helena McRoyal.

Encouragement notes for the students came from the following: Tommy W. Allen Jr., retired sheriff of Anson County, Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, state superintendent of public schools in North Carolina, Richard Harrington, mayor of the town of Lilesville, Landric Reid, sheriff of Anson County, Dr. Fannie Ratliff, counselor administrator of Anson County Schools, Dr. Teresa A. Smith, director of Project SUCCESS in Lilesville, Doris B. Smith of Smith Funeral Home in Wadesboro and Weaver K. Thomas, magistrate in Anson County.

Six young ladies participated in the pageant.

Neveah Barnes was escorted by her grandfather, the Rev. Christopher Chance. She is a fifth-grader at Wadesboro Elementary School and attends The Word of Faith Church in Morven, where Chance is the pastor. For the pageant, she wore an off-white after-five dress with gold heels and matching jewelry. She was sponsored by her grandparents, the Rev. Christopher and Joyce Chance, her mother, Emma Barnes, Dedric L. Chance Sr., Tony Robinson, Carolyn Gatewood, Hezekiah Barnes, Stephen James, James Spencer, Dedrell Chance, Judy Medley, Shirley Rose, Gloria B. Smith, PeBuna B. Burce and The Word of Faith Church.

Jerlonda S. Jefferies was escorted by her father, Derek Anthony. Jefferies is an 11th-grader at Hopewell Charlotte. She wore a long black shimmer gown and silver accessories. She was sponsored by her grandmother, Gloria B. Smith, and her parents, Derek and the Rev. Meredith Jefferies, of Charlotte.

Zamiania C. Pickett was escorted by her cousin, LaVance Ja’Marion Bennett. She is a third-grader at Lilesville Elementary School and attends Lindsey Chapel Church, Lilesville, where the Rev. Sylvia McLendon is the pastor. She wore a mauve and beige long gown with matching accessories. She was sponsored by her uncle, Billy Little, aunt, Tracy Little, Louis and the Rev. McLendon, Geraldine Cole, Vernard and Doris Marshall, Gloria B. Smith, Vance Jr. Bennett, Stephen James, Josh Rhome, John Montgomery, Ben Smith and A&M Trucking.

Helena L. McRoyal was escorted by her mother, Avis Rorie. She is a first-grader at Wadesboro Primary School. She wore a blue dress with black patent leather shoes, white ruffle socks and pearl accessories. She was sponsored by her mother, her grandparents, Vernice and Helen Rorie, Stephen James, Alberta Ratliff, Gloria B. Smith, Joyce Chance, Vernice and Katavia Rorie Jr. and Chris and Robin Sanford.

Ariel V. Wall was escorted by her brother, Zachary Wall. She is a second-grader at Lilesville Elementary School. She wore a peach Sunday long dress with matching ruffle socks, black patent leather shoes and pearl jewelry. She was sponsored by her parents, Lamont and Hilary Wall, grandparents, Arlnia Wall and James and Betty Ingram, Stephen James and Gloria B. Smith.

Organizers said the highlight of the educational gala was Alexis Smith-McCoy, Miss Coppertone Princess of 2014. She is a fifth-grader from the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. She is the daughter of OnJerya T. Smith, of Charlotte, and granddaughter of Robert and Gloria B. Smith, of Lilesville. Alexis crowned Neveah Barnes as the Miss Coppertone Princess of 2015.

Each princess from this academic gala will retain her crown and sash as one of her gifts and present a new crown yearly to the incoming princess.

The Rev. Dr. Sylvia McLendon gave words of encouragement to the audience and participants to continue being active in their churches, community and schools because education is the key to survival in this world of technology.

All of the participants received trophies and gifts. The pageant dinner was served by the hostesses: the Rev. Meredith S. Jefferies, Tracy Little, Sandra Smith-Horne, Shania Rorie, a past student of Project SUCCESS, and Shanton Smith.

The decoration committee was made up of Sandra Smith-Horne, Tracy Little, Billy Little III and Gloria B. Smith, program chairwoman.

Contributed photo Pictured from left are Zamiana C. Pickett, the 2013 pageant princess, Jerlonda Jefferies, Helena L. McRoyal, Neveah Barnes, the 2015 pageant princess, Ariel V. Wall and Alexis Smith-McCoy, the 2014 pageant princess.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_HOLT-pageant-2016-fz.jpgContributed photo Pictured from left are Zamiana C. Pickett, the 2013 pageant princess, Jerlonda Jefferies, Helena L. McRoyal, Neveah Barnes, the 2015 pageant princess, Ariel V. Wall and Alexis Smith-McCoy, the 2014 pageant princess.

For the Record