Residents participating in the pageant included Ruth Mullins, Debbie Howell, Nora Holdridge, Mary Kent, Karen Wood, Mary Carr, Joan Day and Lou Stillwell.
Bennie Faye Sanders was crowned Miss Healthcare Inc. last week at Ashville. She has been living at the facility for less than a week.
The contestants were all dressed in gowns and enjoyed being paraded around in front of the other residents and guests.
Other contestants included Ruth Mullins, Debbie Howell, Nora Holdridge, Mary Kent, Karen Wood, Mary Carr, Joan Day and Lou Stillwell. The judges named all these ladies first runners-up.
Sanders’ daughter, Marlene Henderson, was on hand for the crowning and couldn’t believe her mom won over the other beautiful ladies.
“She was in St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital for a week before being transferred to Health Care Inc. in Ashville,” Henderson said. “She received excellent care at the hospital from doctors, nurses and staff. She even shed a few tears as she left because she had bonded with so many of the staff members.”
Henderson said now that her mother is at Health Care Inc., she has continued to blossom. “She is receiving excellent care and absolutely loves the attention she is getting,” Henderson said. “She is simply glowing after being crowned Miss Healthcare Inc. This kind of activity goes a long way in making the residents feel good about themselves.”
During the pageant, each contestant was asked before the judging why they felt they should win. Sanders’ answer was, “Because I’m so pretty.”
“Afterwards, I asked her how she felt about winning,” Henderson said. “She told me she had never won anything in her life.”
“There are so many pretty ladies here,” Sanders said. “I didn’t think I would win, but I sure am glad I did.”
Henderson said this really made her mother’s day special, especially with her being a new resident.
Activities director Kelli Smith said the home would be having its Little Miss Health Care Pageant at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.
“All are welcome to enter,” Smith said. “The fee is $20, and half of the proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. This is a great cause, and we have a lot of exciting events coming up at Health Care Inc.”
Contact Gary Hanner at ghanner@thestclairtimes.com.
