Behind the Crown
What does the Thomasville History Center have to do with the Miss Thomasville scholarship competition? More than you might think…
The relationship between the History Center and the pageant goes back many years and on a winding path. Bear with me… It all started when I was a member of the team of directors for the Rose Queen pageant. Yes, I know, I’m still shocked by this bit of my personal and professional history. I can’t lie, this factoid kills during ice-breaker games of 2 truths and a lie…
Back in 2017 or so, I was the Treasurer for the Junior Service League of Thomasville. Around that time the City of Thomasville approached League to assume management of the Rose Queen Pageant. For decades, the Rose Queen and Miss Thomasville were synonymous, and the prevailing thought was that it was a natural fit for Junior Service League — an organization focused on women’s volunteerism and community support — to take over the pageant. For a few years, I served on the managing board of the scholarship pageant and took on the task of “beefing up” the local history and culture questions. As ambassadors to and for our community, it felt important that they truly “know” our community and its history. Thus began the partnership with the History Center.
Our relationship has continued beyond my tenure on the Board, and grown to include Meme, who is now a leader in the Junior Service League. It’s becoming a History Center tradition! Together with pageant representatives, we’ve developed a detailed breakdown of relevant historical context that the contestants use to build their responses. The packet includes an overview of the History Center’s guiding interpretive idea that Thomasville and Thomas County are a part of place, and a place apart. Themes of identity, opportunity, adaptation, ecology, and preservation weave throughout the packet and each contestant uses her own life experience and interpretation to develop unique responses to shared questions. Additional resource materials provided by the Jack Hadley Black History Museum and Pebble Hill Plantation add to the breadth of shared community knowledge and traditions.
At rehearsals, Meme and I coach contestants into “speaking in draft,” and develop responses that reflect them as individuals. Usually, we’re met with fearful, wide-eyed gazes and silence in the first few attempts. Then we show them how it’s done, as members of the pageant team toss us paraphrased versions of each question, and we answer off the top of our heads. Despite working with this information daily, you’d be surprised how often we must take a moment and compose ourselves before rattling off an unpracticed answer. Let’s call this leading by example… Soon we coax bullet point responses out of contestants in one-on-one and group settings. Meme and I remind them to not get bogged down in the facts and instead focus on the big ideas, emotions, and arguments that resonate for them. We start with the basics: who, what, when, where, why, and how, and build from there. Over the course of the week, and many pop quizzes during dress rehearsals and down time during talent practice, the lightbulbs go on and responses flow. It’s gratifying to see the transformation of each contestant as their confidence grows.
Contestants stand out in our memories for a variety of reasons. The draft answer that unexpectedly makes you emotional with the force of their conviction and attention to every word; a former camper that is now all grown up; the shy and uncomfortable contestant who lights up on stage during talent; the list goes on. In recent years, one contestant has held a special place in our hearts. Meme and I first met her as a contestant and soon after, she became a member of our first Apprentice class. For 2 years, Savannah Taylor, the current Miss Thomasville, rolled into our bi-monthly meetings with news of her latest theatrical rehearsal, giggled with friends, and had thoughtful conversations about the role of museums in society.
Meme and I try not to play favorites, but when Savannah returned to the Miss Thomasville competition in 2023 for a second time, we silently, then very loudly, cheered her on as she was crowned. Now, we’re cheering her on as she competes for the title of Miss Georgia. We do not attempt to take credit for her success. That’s all her. But we’re grateful to have been a part of her journey. How far this journey takes her is still a mystery at the time I’m writing this, but wherever it leads, we hope you’ll join us in cheering Savannah, and the rest of the Miss Thomasville contestants on as they take a big step into the spotlight.
With the help of Tom Faircloth, a longtime organizer of the pageant, we reached deep into the alumna network of Miss Thomasvilles to request donations of gowns, crowns, and more for our permanent collection. In response, we now hold gowns worn by the first Rose Queen, the late Doris Gothard Mountjoy, Miss Thomasville 1958 Celia Chesnut Lockerman, Miss Thomasville 1996 Nicole Willers, Miss Thomasville 1974 Seva Day May, Miss Thomasville 1970 Devony DePew Morgan, and more. The reigning Miss Thomasville has also lent us her crowning gown for display alongside her predecessors in some years.
While the ultimate goal of “world peace” may be unattainable from the stage of a small town pageant competition, we at the History Center are firmly behind the crown lending a hand in cultivating strong, well-spoken young women, and we’d say that’s pretty great.
