The Bal d’ Or Club recently honored 11 young ladies presenting at the club’s 60th annual ball on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at the Gadsden Country Club. Photography was provided by Bentley Gray Photography of Boaz.
The Bal d’Or welcomed into membership Mrs. Josh Gilbert, Mrs. Hunter Hayes, Mrs. Mark Hill, Mrs. David Simmons, Mrs. Brett Wilborn and and Mrs. Lee Wilson.
The evening’s festivities were coordinated by the Bal d’Or Board of Governors, which includes Chairman Catherine Larkin; Vice Chairman Helene Haller; Secretary Jennifer Troncale; Treasurer Kate Tang, Food and Beverage Chairman Jenny Stacey; Decorations Chairman Deana Williams, Invitations Chairman Prissy Yother, Publicity Chairman Catherine Bailey, Parliamentarian Eugenia Cunningham and Past President Cathy Ellis.
Eleven debutantes were presented wearing traditional long white dresses and gloves, a compliment to the black tuxedos worn by their fathers and escorts. Each presentee carried a delicate calla lily tied with a gold ribbon. Musical entertainment was provided by Nationwide Coverage.
The following are the 2021 Bal d’ Or Presentees.
Stephanie Cameron Bowley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fred Bowley III and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Pevsner of Gadsden, Mr. Steven Arnold Taylor, Robert Fred Bowley Jr., of Gadsden, and the late Ms. Linda Joyce Bowley. Miss Bowley attends the University of Alabama, where she is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She was selected into the highly competitive Minerva program and is pursuing a degree in Creative Advertising. She just accepted an internship with the APC Center of the Culverhouse Business School as their Creative Advertising and Marketing Intern. In her free time, she works through Alpha Gam doing Meals on Wheels and volunteering at the West Alabama Food Bank. Escorting Miss Bowley were Mr. Houston Tyler, Franklin, Mr. Joshua Cooper Hill, and Mr. Jack Wilkinson Smalley.
Lilly Victoria Echeverri is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Alberto Echeverri. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Mona Wallace and the late Mr. Hugh Wallace of Rainbow City and the late Mr. and Mrs. Fabio Echeverri of Bogota, Columbia. Miss Echeverri attends Auburn University, where she is an Industrial Design major. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Miss Echeverri is a College of Architecture, Design and Construction Ambassador and a member of the Industrial Designers Society of America. She is a member of Students for Clean Water and the Outdoor Adventure Club. Miss Echeverri was honored as a member of the Dean’s List and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Escorting Miss Echeverri were Mr. Joseph Higdon Gilchrist, Mr. Taylor Edward Nails and Mr. Jackson Brett Vice.
Mary Reid Goodwin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James David Goodwin III. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. James David Goodwin, Jr. of Gadsden and the late Dr. James David Goodwin, Jr. Miss Goodwin attends Auburn University where she is pursuing a degree in exercise science with a minor in psychology. She plans to attend physical therapy school after graduation. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and serves as a volunteer leader with Beauregard Young Life. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Gadsden and also attends Auburn Community Church. Escorting Miss Goodwin were Mr. Caleb Joseph Burford, Mr. William Scott Partridge and Mr. Griffin Payne Singleton.
Sara Elizabeth Goodwin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James David Goodwin III. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. James David Goodwin, Jr., of Gadsden and the late Dr. James David Goodwin, Jr. Miss Goodwin attends Auburn University where she is pursuing a degree in nursing. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and serves on the social media team. Miss Goodwin is also a volunteer leader with Beauregard Young Life. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Gadsden and also attends Auburn Community Church. Escorting Miss Goodwin were Mr. Blake Hunter Foster, Mr. Hunter Whitfield Grimes and Mr. Michael Brockman Murphy.
Ansley Walker Hicks is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles David Hicks. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. William Owen Leach, Jr. and the late Mr. William Owen Leach, Jr., of Gadsden and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Earl Hicks of Gadsden. Miss Hicks attends Birmingham-Southern College, where she is pursuing a degree in Accounting. She is a member of the college’s women’s soccer team. Her honors and activities include Southern Ambassador, BSC Stump Scholar, Vice President of the BSC Business Magazine, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Homecoming Court, member of Chi Omega sorority, Southern Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s list. Escorting Miss Hicks were Mr. John Reese Bellew, Mr. Austin Charles McClellan and Mr. John Ross Morgan, all of Gadsden.
Sarah Slater Hicks is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles David Hicks. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. William Owen Leach, Jr., and the late Mr. William Owen Leach, Jr., of Gadsden and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Earl Hicks of Gadsden. Miss Hicks attends Birmingham-Southern College, where she is pursuing a degree in Accounting. She is a member of the college’s women’s soccer team where, she was named as an All-Southern Athletic Association Second Team Defender. Her honors and activities include Southern Ambassador, BSC Stump Scholar, BSC Stump Secretary, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, member of Chi Omega sorority, Southern Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s List. Escorting Miss Hicks were Mr. Malone Gray Johnson of Gadsden, Mr. Benjamin Robert Koury of Gadsden and Mrs. William James Wilder III of Birmingham.
Baden Elizabeth Kemp is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Bledsoe Kemp IV. She is the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jack L Hammersmith of Morgantown, West Virginia and Mr. and Mrs. William Bledsoe Kemp III of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Miss Kemp attends Samford University, where she is a Psychology major. She is a member of Phi Mu sorority and was selected to be part of the 2021 Work Crew for Young Life. She was the recipient of the Dean’s List Scholarship, the Leadership Scholarship and the University Scholarship. Escorting Miss Kemp were Mr. James Kevin Amberson Jr., Mr. Lucas Cranford Boyd and Mr. Davis Robert Ryan.
Anna Dickson Leach is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Dickson Leach. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. William Owen Leach, Jr. of Gadsden and the late William Owen Leach Jr., and Mrs. Horace Michael Bilbro of Gadsden and the late Horace Michael Bilbro. Miss Leach attends Auburn University, where she is pursuing a professional degree and double major in Architecture and Interior Architecture. She has been selected to attend Auburn’s prestigious Rural Studio spring semester 2022. Anna is a National Merit Scholar, a member of Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Tau Sigma Delta Architecture Honor Society and the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement. She is a board member for Auburn’s chapter of The American Institute of Architecture Students and an honors college student who has been named to the Dean’s list each semester. She is a member of the Auburn Fencing Club. She plans to spend the summer interning for Edgens Herzog Architects in Asheville, North Carolina. Escorting Miss Leach were Mr. Forest Clifton McClinton of Auburn, Mr. Matthew Collin Merkel of Gadsden and Mr. Ryan Garrett Pearce of Gadsden.
Anne Caroline Miller is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Barr Miller IV. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Marsue Dean Lancaster and the late Mr. Hugh Barr Miller III of Gadsden and Mr. and Mrs. James Kelly Allgood of Jackson, Mississippi and the late Mrs. Nancy Wilcox Allgood. Miss Miller is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she was chosen for the homecoming dance competition and also served as the Public Health Major Chair. She has also served as a Sigma Rho Chi recruitment counselor, Young Life Leadership Trainee and a volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She was honored as a member of the Dean’s List. Escorting Miss Miller were Mr. James Douglas Martin III, Mr. James Kelley Allgood Miller and Mr. Donald Daniel Ryan, Jr.
Anne Crisler Roberts is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hiller Roberts. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. James Richardson Keenan and the late Mr. James Richardson Keenan of Jackson, Mississippi and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lee Roberts of Gadsden. Anne attends the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a degree in Chemistry and Communication Studies with a minor in social innovation and leadership. She is a member of Chi Omega sorority. She is a National Merit Scholar and University Fellow. She serves as an Honors College Ambassador and Greek Ambassador and words as an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Chemistry. Ann is the project planning coordinator for the Carl A. Elliott Society. She teaches weekly dance classes and serves as a mentor for the Boys and Girls Club for West Alabama. She is a member of Cardinal Key Honor Society, Lambda Sigma Honor Society and Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society. Miss Roberts also plans to study at Oxford University this summer. Escorting Miss Roberts were Mr. William Culp Lankford, Mr. Baylor Luke Partridge and Mr. Linton Davis Roberts.
Alley McHenry Sizemore is the daughter of Mr. Charles Daniel Sizemore and Ms. Jody Carmichael Sizemore. She is the granddaughter of Mr. And Mrs. Douglas Lamar Carmichael of Guntersville, Mr. and Mrs. James Daniel Sizemore of Orange Beach and Ms. Susan Ann Goodwyn Sizemore of Orange Beach. She is pursuing a major in Elementary Education at Auburn University. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, where she has served as the director of special events and the vice president of chapter wellness. She is a member of the Student Government Association and has served as a College of Education Student Ambassador and Mentor. She was awarded a Purvelo Studio Internship. Escorting Miss Sizemore were Mr. Carter Patrick Cooper, of Gadsden, Mr. Jackson Cole Cox of Gadsden and Mr. Andrew Wilson Parks of Franklin, Tennessee.