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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Miss Alabama’s Teen Ali Mims and Miss Alabama Abbie Stockard joined each other to crown Mr. and Mrs. Buck Creek during the start of a new annual tradition at the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek in Alabaster.

The inaugural Mr. Mrs. Buck Creek pageant took place on Friday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. at the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek.

“We couldn’t have asked for it to have gone any better, it was amazing,” said Stephen Beane, activities director for the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek. “That’s all anybody has talked about for weeks since the pageant happened. I’m very pleased.”

Years ago, the Briarcliff Nursing Home in Alabaster would host the annual Mr. and Mrs. Briarcliff pageant at the facility where the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek is now located. Now, the new administration at the healthcare center decided to  bring that tradition back with a new name and to make it an annual staple for its residents.

“One of the things that the residents wanted to bring back was (this pageant),” Beane said. “We were eager to make it happen.”

The contestants of the pageant were selected from the residents at the Healthcare Center at Buck Creek and the winners of the coveted titles and awards were determined from a panel of judges. Judges for the inaugural pageant included, Assistant Vice President Branch Manager of Bryant Bank in Hoover Ashley Myers, Dr. Tara Griffin from We SAGE Health and Wellness and Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield.

“It went very well,” Beane said. “We have a lot of people that worked here (during the last Briarcliff pageant) and they said, “Well, this is the best thing that we’ve ever seen here.’ It was phenomenal and we had a lot of people involved and they helped make the decorations and everything. It was just amazing.”

The winners were  picked through various categories based on the selection process of the Alabama Nursing Home Association. Aspects of the judging included personality and physical appearance in relation to age, expressive, attitude, communication, ability to speak and communicate clearly, poise and composure on stage, quality of interview answers, attitude towards life and more.

The following individuals placed in the Mrs. Buck Creek competition:

• Third runner up – Johnnie Brown
• Second runner up – Yolande Turberville
• First runner up – Drusilla Gullette
• Mrs. Buck Creek 2024 – Bessie Hankins

The following individuals placed in the Mr. Buck Creek competition:

• Third runner up – Walter Ogletree
• Second runner up – Victor Williams
• First runner up – Johnnie Davis
• Mr. Buck Creek 2024 – Billy Hallman

Although Buck Creek resident Penny Fox didn’t meet the criteria to formally compete in the Mrs. Buck Creek competitions, she was so popular and commonly nominated that she won the pageant’s Miss Congeniality title for 2024.

“Everybody loves her,” Beane said.

Now, with the inaugural Mr. and Mrs. Buck Creek pageant successfully finished, the staff and residents can look forward to its return in 2025.