Jolly Jills make their debut during 32nd annual cotillion

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 30, 2002 | by Diane Wengler

Wearing floor-length white gowns and carrying snow-white giant tiger lily bouquets, 12 young women were presented June 15 at The Broadmoor during the 32nd annual Jolly Jills Debutante Ball & Cotillion.

Renitta Dion Mitchell, a 2002 graduate of Fountain-Fort Carson High School, was crowned queen of the ball. She is the daughter of Roderick and Malinda Mitchell.

Keiana Patrice Harris, a 2002 graduate of Sand Creek High School, was named Miss Most Likely to Succeed. The daughter of Kelvin and Tracie Harris, she received the Floyd Pettie Memorial Scholarship as the most academically promising debutante.

Harris also was named first runner-up to the queen. Mitchell High School graduate Erika Leah Castro, daughter of Gregory and Priscilla Castro, was second runner-up to the queen. Her fellow debutantes named Elizabeth Ann McMearn, a graduate of Mesa Ridge High School, Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of the Rev. James and Mary McMearn.

Others presented during the debutante ball include: Marlesa Renee Moore, Stephanie Lynn Zenon, Megan Elizabeth Thompkins, Kenitra Cavin, Markeya Fultz, Tacarra Sheniel Hatcher, Tiffany Austria Albright and Dolores Patria Garcia.

The trumpeter's call signaled the start of the ball and the introduction of the official hostesses, Jolly Jills President Sherley Marie Hancock and Vice President Kimberly Watkins and the members of the Jolly Jills Civic and Social Club Inc. and the 2002 honorary chairpersons, Lerry and Clarica "Reese" Armstead.

There were special recognitions for Jolly Jills charter member Esther Louise Wright, and several ball supporters received President's Awards, including Franklin and Helen Clay, Ella Mae Pleasant, Norvell Simpson, Samuel and Minnie Rae Hun-ter and the Rev. Jesse Brown Jr.

Heralds, junior hosts and hostesses and future debutantes were presented.

Post-debutantes in attendance included Danielle Summerville, Genelle Chapman and LaTischa Castro.

John Bowen, Isaiah Dunlap and David Sharpe provided musical entertainment for the ball, co-chaired by Gloria Smith and Shirley Carr.

The ball ended with the debutante dance presentation of "Fascination," and the traditional father-and-debutante and mother- and-escort waltz.

Home tour benefits American Cancer Society

Guests at the majestic Colorado lodge home at 1930 Fox Mountain Point entered the porte-cochere June 20 for the Celebration Home fund- raiser for the American Cancer Society.

Among the partygoers were Nichols & Comito's clients and vendors, admiring the finished product as they chatted with Larry Nichols and Georgia Kostas, Claude and Debbie Comito, Cancer Society Executive Director Vicki Dimond and S. Jerrard Smith.

The party and Celebration Home tours (which will continue 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Wednesday through July 7) raised $25,000 for the Cancer Society. Tickets are $5 a person for the tour.

Guests wandered through the open main floor with a moss rock fireplace and river rock-accented fountain and owner's level (which included a room-sized walk-in closet, adjacent workout room, bedroom and palatial master bath).

Vintages Wine & Spirits provided wine stations on both levels featuring a variety of domestic and international wines. The Briarhurst Manor Inn's Ken Healey prepared a buffet of miniature beef brochettes, seafood tray, fruit and vegetable plates and truffle and clair desserts.

Admiring the home's murals and mountain and city views were Jim and Becky Hurley, Randy Hall (whose Hall Woodworking and Cabinetry did the millwork and cabinetry), Dr. Douglas Reznick, Dr. Sheri Sommers, Lea Roads, Rich Schell, Caryn Kocel, Jody and Phyllis McCoy, Jeanette Minniti, Greg Wragge, Sam and Mary Alice Hall, Steve Schnurr and Diana Miller, Norm and Wynne Palermo, Dr. David and Elke Schroeder, Stuart and Susie Scott, Mark and Ann Hazuka, Carol Caldwell, Pino and Suzy Bassani, Larry and Cari Shaffer, Barry and Betsy Sobral, Steve and Susan Suggs, Tom and Marilyn Stoen, Cindy Taliaferro, Jocelyn Wall, David and Karen Whitaker and Elizabeth Youngquist.

Springs woman named Miss Colorado

Colorado Springs' Morgan O'Murray was crowned Miss Colorado 2002 in La Junta on June 22.

The 21-year-old is a 2002 graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a double major in finance and information systems.

Competing in the Miss Colorado Pageant in interview, swimwear, evening gown and talent, she performed a Bob Fosse-inspired jazz dance to win more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes.

The 1999 graduate of Cheyenne Mountain High School was Miss Colorado Teen USA in 1999 and a Denver Broncos cheerleader in 2000 and 2001.

As Miss Colorado, her platform is "Take Charge! Eradicating Asthma Through Research, Education and Support." Morgan has had asthma all her life.

She will represent Colorado at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City in September. The Miss America Scholarship Organization is the world's largest scholarship program for women, awarding more than $35 million annually.

Morgan is the daughter of Connie O'Murray of Aspen and Colorado Springs and Rudy O'Murray of Los Angeles. Her sister Audra O'Murray is a student at CU-Springs.