Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Miss Gurdon Lakes Pageant Held

Lakita Davis of Arkadelphia was crowned the 2001 Miss Gurdon Lake Pageant winner. She was crowned by last year's Miss Gurdon Lake, LaTrena Beaslely.

Davis is the daughter of Clarice Davis. She was a graduating senior this year at Arkadelphia High School.

During the evening gown competition, the fourth place winner, Tonette Johnson's dress disappeared during the competition and she was not able to compete in this category, which caused a problem that the judges quickly solved.

Davis displayed principles of character, unselfishness, bravery and courageousness on stage, then relinquished her crown, banner and flowers and shared them by crowning Tonette. The audience was ectastic by the unprecedented gesture of the newly crowned Miss Gurdon Lake.

La Vonda Buford, daughter of Kim and Yvonne Buford, was first runner-up, Helen Dickens, daughter of David and Mae Helen Dickens of Gurdon, was second runner-up.

Junior Miss Gurdon Lake title winner was Kimberly Hannah of Arkadelphia. Hannah is the daughter of Gregory and Vanilla Hannah.

The first runner-up was Destiny Talley of Gurdon. She is the daughter of Leroy and Venus Talley.

In the pre-teen division Angel Huddleston, daughter of Derwin and Shannon Lacy, was the winner.

First runner-up in this division was Hanna Renae Prince, who is the daughter of Danny and Renee Prince. The second runner-up was Chanel McClain, granddaughter of Margaret Campbell.

LaTorri Anderson, the daughter of Terry and Yvette Anderson, was winner in the Tiny Miss Gurdon Lake division.

The first runner-up was Kadijah Campbell, the daughter of Margaret Campbell.

Myesha Shanay Brown of Arkadelphia was the infant division winner. She is the daughter of Lamar and Shane Brown.

Escorts for the pageant were O'Brien Moss, Walter Hart Jr., Cameron Rhinehart and Chris Marshall.

The mistresses of ceremony were Lavinia Young, 1994 Miss Gurdon Lake, and Roxie Hannah, 1995 Miss Gurdon Lake. The theme of the pageant was "The Stars Are Out Tonight."

Judges serving for the pageant included Estelle Forte, Mary Nell Clay, Yonne Thomas and Ida Harris.

Venus Talley was chairperson for the pageant. Special entertainment was provided by the 1995 Miss Gurdon Lake title winner Roxie Hannah, James Giles Jr., Mrs. Vickie Henry of Texarkana, Tiffaney Willis, Rev. Quintin Radford, Beverly Willis and Darrell Tidwell, a Prescott High School senior.