14 • Thursday, January 28, 2016
social
Ballet Benefit
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Journal photos by Emily Williams
2015 Poinsettia Debutantes Presented in Holiday Ball
From left: Katherine Susan Brightbill, Kathryn Courtney Lundberg, Carlyle Elizabeth Thornton and Katherine Bouchard Tracy.
Catherine Carlisle Masingill, Mary Francis Yeilding, Mary Amanda Hall and Joan Leslie McGill.
Mary Katherine Manakides, Alexandria Grace Morris and Allison Elizabeth Pounds.
Anna Scott Welch, Susanna Katheryn Bagwell and Paige Margaret Burleson.
Andrea Burris, Bailey Thompson, Haley Harmon, Morgan Brown and Hannah Nelson.
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ourteen debutantes and 20 junior debutantes were presented on the arms of their fathers at Vestavia Country Club at the 48th annual Poinsettia Debutante Ball on Dec. 29. The holiday-themed event was hosted by the Ballet Women’s Committee and the Poinsettia Men’s Club. Each of the debutantes, all college juniors, wore white ball gowns and white gloves, and carried bouquets of red poinsettias and greenery. The ballroom was decorated with garlands lit with white lights, two towering Christmas trees trimmed with gold ornaments and a grouping of red poinsettias. Carole Sullivan, of Lagniappe Designs, coordinated the festive décor. Junior debutantes wore red dresses and carried white poinsettias with greenery. The evening began with an early presentation of the debutantes at a Benefactor’s Dinner sponsored by the Poinsettia Men’s Club and coordinated by Jan Roberts and Sue Ellen Summers. The 2015 Poinsettia Debutantes were: Susanna Katheryn Bagwell, Katherine Susan Brightbill, Paige Margaret
Hannah Pahos, Hope Ward and Rachel Nesbitt.
Gabby Turnbough, Katharine Henley, Harper Coleman, Lizzy Boston and Mary Beth Duckett.
Burleson, Mary Amanda Hall, Kathryn Courtney Lundberg, Mary Katherine Manakides, Catherine Carlisle Masingill, Joan Leslie McGill, Alexandria Grace Morris, Allison Elizabeth Pounds, Carlyle Elizabeth Thornton, Katherine Bouchard Tracy, Anna Scott Welch and Mary Frances Yeilding. Junior debutantes were included for the first time at the 2015 ball. The inaugural junior deb class consisted of 20 area high school seniors: Hanna Marie Boge, Elizabeth Copeland Boston, Morgan Elizabeth Brown, Andrea Leigh Burris, Harper Gray Coleman, Mary Elizabeth Duckett, Haley Patricia Harmon, Susannah Elizabeth Harvey, Katharine Elizabeth Henley, Bailey Elizabeth Johnson, Olivia Marigo Karagas, Frances Abbott Knox, Anna Kathryn Lucas, Morgan Nadine Maddox, Hannah Kathleen Nelson, Rachel Catherine Nesbitt, Hannah Grace Pahos, Hailey Elizabeth Thompson, Gabrielle Elizabeth Turnbough and Hope Elisabeth Ward. After the presentation, the debutantes and ball guests danced
to the music of the band Az-Izz. Melissa Lassiter served as Poinsettia Ball Board president. Other ball board members included: Mary Jo Angelo, Sherry Bohorfoush, Joanna Burleson, Joanna Duckett, Liz Phillips Guest, Lianne Hand, Nancy Kennedy, Frances McAleer and Marian McCord. Ball co-chairs were Joanna Duckett and Marion McCord. Sherry Bohorfoush served as ball social secretary. Other ball board members included: Betsy Spivey, Frances Knox, Una Ray Barnett, Jan Roberts, Sue Ellen Summers, Karen Waldheim, Kelley Brown, and Tammy Towns. Frances McAleer served as president of the Ballet Women’s Committee. Poinsettia Men’s Club president was Tab Whisenhunt. The Ballet Women’s Committee was founded in 1960 to foster and promote fine arts in the greater Birmingham area. The Poinsettia Men’s Club was formed in 1969 to support, promote and cultivate goals and activities of the Ballet Women’s Committee. All proceeds of the ball help support the Alabama Ballet. ❖