Titleholders

Miss Tennessee Titleholders

Miss Tennessee 2007 - Grace Gore

Grace is currently a second year doctoral student of Audiology at Vanderbilt University. After high school, she attended the College of Charleston in South Carolina for two years before transferring to the University of Mississippi, where she received a Bachelors of Science degree in Communicative Disorders. Grace spent the summer semester of 2005 studying at Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy.

Throughout her year as Miss Tennessee, Grace is employed by the State Department of Education as the official spokesperson for the Governor’s Safe and Drug Free Tennessee Program. She is traveling to public schools across the state, talking to children about the importance of healthy lifestyles and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Also, she is the spokesperson for an anti-tobacco campaign where she will present schoolchildren with facts about the consequences of tobacco use. As an ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network, Grace is working with the five participating hospitals in Tennessee assisting with radiothons, telethons, and other fundraisers to ensure that Tennessee’s children are receiving the medical care they need regardless of their financial ability.

Grace is Founder and President of Graceful Sounds, Inc. As an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Graceful Sounds works to provide the needed hearing aids and audiology services to children with hearing loss and to support Music Therapy in Tennessee’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. (In partnership with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Music Therapy Program supported by the Julian T. Fouce Fund) Please visit www.gracefulsounds.tn.org for more information and to donate online!

Grace has enjoyed working with the Ear Foundation, nationally headquartered in Nashville, distributing free hearing protection devices at Nashville Super Speedway car races and collecting survey data about public perceptions of loudness. Because developmental delays are prevalent in children with hearing loss, Grace has provided early intervention by performing Auditory Brainstem Testing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She has also worked in hearing screening programs in Nashville metro area Head Start Centers to identify the need for further diagnostic testing.

In November, Grace filmed the reality series “Miss America Reality Check” in Los Angeles, which aired on TLC in January. She was a Top 15 Finalist in the Miss America Live competition in Las Vegas and was also a Quality of Life Award finalist for her work with Graceful Sounds, Inc.

http://www.earfoundation.org/

www.gracefulsounds.tn.org

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Miss Tennessee Hall of Fame

Miss Tennessee Reunion 2007 Video

Information courtesy of Jerry Alford

1935 Maxine Beard		1938 Victoria Ann Motlow McLean Miss Fayetteville Winner- Miss Smokey Mountain Festival Isobel Carter unable to compete for Miss America due to illness 2nd-Miss Clarksville Peggy Shelby	1939 Judy Jones Hinton Miss Tracy City Miss West Tennessee Anna Louise Bussart McMillen Miss Etowah The Miss Tennessee Pageant crowned two contestants to compete in Atlantic City. Both Judy Jones and Louise Bussart competed for the Miss America title. 1st-Miss Paris Doris McCutcheon 2nd-Miss Lenoir City Mildred Reno	1940 Christine Webb Gregory Miss Centerville Winner - Miss Pulaski Marjorie Moon resigned due to illness did not compete at Miss America 2nd-Miss Cookeville Peggy Martin Top 5 Miss Clarksville Hilda Vick Miss Dickson Violetta Weems
1941 Martha McKinney Pesci Miss Candyland 1st-Miss Tracy City Judy Jones 2nd (tie)- Miss Carthage Justine Maggart Miss Nashville Marie Dixon		1942 There was NO Miss Tennessee Pageant held in the year 1942. There were no Tennesseans represented at Miss America in Atlantic City. There were only 30 contestants competing for Miss America in 1942.	1943 Frances Eakes Valadez Miss Chattanooga There was no Miss Tennessee Pageant held in 1943, although Miss Chattanooga was appointed Miss Tennessee to represent our state at Miss America in Atlantic City.	1944 Marian Weller Brickell Miss Chattanooga There was no Miss Tennessee Pageant held in 1944, although Miss Chattanooga was appointed Miss Tennessee to represent our state at Miss America in Atlantic City.
1945...Lee Henson Preliminary Swimsuit Winner Top 15 at Miss America Miss Chattanooga There was no Miss Tennessee Pageant held in 1945, although Miss Chattanooga was appointed Miss Tennessee to represent our state at Miss America in Atlantic City.		1946 Wilda Bowman Sloan Miss Chattanooga There was no Miss Tennessee Pageant held in 1946, although Miss Chattanooga was appointed Miss Tennessee to represent our state at Miss America in Atlantic City.	1947 Jean Cunningham Sterchi Top 15 at Miss America Miss Chattanooga Jane Cunningham Browning Miss Chattanooga Barbara Walker Hummel Miss Memphis Miss America The Miss Chattanooga Pageant was won by twins. Since no Miss Tennessee Pageant was held, they were appointed Miss Tennessee. After arriving in Atlantic City, a coin toss determined which twin would be Miss Tennessee. The other competed as Miss Chattanooga. Jean won the coin toss.	1948 Dorothy Free Thurmond Preliminary Talent Winner at Miss America Miss Chattanooga 1st - Miss Nashville Bettye Bell 2nd-Miss Middle Tennessee State Teacher's College Virginia Locke 3rd - Miss Knox County Sarah Gentry 4th - Miss Knoxville Jane Oliver
1949...Adelyn Sumner		1950...Greta Graham	1951 Jean Harper Drumwright Top 10 at Miss America Miss Shelby County 1st-Miss Chattanooga Charlotte Walker 2nd-Miss Memphis Ann Gilbert Top 5 Miss Nashville Pauline Gilbert Miss Davidson County Clara Rawlings	1952 Gloria Ruthe Williams Ermer Miss Chattanooga No pageant was held
1953 Ruth Ann Barker Smith Miss Gibson County 1st-Miss Knoxville, Hannah Elizabeth Roaden 2nd-Miss Davidson County, Jessie Jean Frye Top 5 Miss Nashville, Ann Wan Wolfe Miss Union City, Donna Margaret Gardner		1954 Gerry Johnson Huffine Top 10 at Miss America Miss Nashville 1st-Miss Shelby County, Barbara Joyce Gurley 2nd-Miss Memphis, Jean Bridgeforth Top 5 Miss Knox County, Gayle Wolffe Miss Madison County, Avanette Davidson	1955 Patty Williams Woodmansee Miss Lambuth College 1st-Miss Covington, Patricia Wilson 2nd-Miss Nashville, Stella Wilson Top 5 Miss Chattanooga, Marilyn Harris Miss Knoxville, Doria Bonham	1956 Shelby Bailey Spraggins Miss Gadsden 1st -Miss Madison County, Anita Marie Wood 2nd-Miss Jackson, Jane Elizabeth Wyatt Top 5 Miss Memphis, Peggy Joyce Person Miss Nashville, Beverley Faye Robinson
1957 Amanda Whitman Henry Miss Davidson County 1st-Miss Frayser Bobbye Harris 2nd-Miss Madison County Harriet Metts Top 5 Miss Memphis, Martha Nelle Boales Miss Newport, Betty Jean Brabston		1958 Patricia Eaves McAnally Miss Putnam County 1st-Miss Louden County, Mary Lynn Sharpe 2nd-Miss Davidson County, Delores Gay Top 10 Miss Bedford County, Patricia Parker Miss Chattanooga, Jean Lindsey Miss Franklin County, Nancy Sue Winton Miss Maury County, Vicki Carden Miss Memphis, Terry Kay Lane Miss Nashville, Linda West Miss UT Martin, Nancy Sue Lawson	1959 Mickey Weyland Miss Knoxville Top 10 at Miss America 1st-Miss Huntingdon, Dixie Carter 2nd-Miss Humboldt, Rita Wilson Top 5 Miss Maury County, Martha Ann Frakes Miss Oak Ridge, Lila Raye Davis	1960 Jenny Thomas Oakes Miss Nashville 1st-Miss Davidson County, Patricia Terrell 2nd-Miss Knoxville, Becky Grubbs 3rd-Miss Austin Peay State, Laura Ann Swift 4th- Miss Union University, Freddie Karen Sandidge
1961 Rita Wilson Howard Miss Bells 1st-Miss Memphis, Patsy Jones 2nd-Miss Nashville, Patricia Sue Schmidt 3rd-Miss Frayser, Freddie Karen Sandidge 4th-Miss Knoxville, Evelyn Marie Stephens		1962 Margaret Petty Denny Miss Nashville 1st-Miss Bells, Bonnie Bunkley 2nd-Miss Frayser, Barbara Jeanne Anderson 3rd-Miss Whitehaven, Courtney Wynne Agnew 4th-Miss Miss Johnson City, Schery Jeanne Lodter	1963 Martha Truett Noe 3rd Runner Up to Miss America Miss Bells 1st-Miss Whitehaven, Nancy Thomason 2nd-Miss Knoxville, Orsalia Asteris 3rd-Miss Humboldt, Mary Alice Craig 4th-Miss Morristown, Priscilla Masengill	1964 Rita Munsey Doss Miss Knoxville 1st-Miss Nashville, Jayne Ann Owens 2nd-Miss Memphis, Mary Driver 3rd-Miss Austin Peay State, Dorothy Susan Stone 4th-Miss Davidson County, Pamela Jean Parker
1965 Marcia Murray Moss Miss Paris 1st-Miss Kingsport, Vicki Lynn Hurd 2nd-Miss Knoxville, Patricia Lynn McCampbell 3rd-Miss West Tennessee Business College, Cheryl Lee Campbell 4th-Miss Wilson County, Sherrel Diane Johnson		1966 Vicki Hurd Bartholomew 2nd Runner up to Miss America Miss Carter County 1st-Miss Memphis, Jeanne Sheffield 2nd-Miss Nashville, Shirley Griggs 3rd-Miss Knoxville, Carol Marie Dougherty 4th-Miss Bells, Sandra Hopper	1967 Linda Workman Shumate Miss UT Martin 1st-Miss Kingsport, Brenda Joan Seal 2nd-Miss Memphis, Susan Odney Buchwald 3rd-Miss Bells, Cecille Sampson 4th-Miss Memphis State University, Linda Lucille Childress	1968 Brenda Seal Kemp Top 10 at Miss America Miss East Tennessee State University 1st-Miss Kingsport, Janice Sproles 2nd-Miss UT Martin, Nancy Marilyn Hicks 3rd-Miss Weakley County, Cynthia Vincent 4th-Miss Union University, Martha Jacqueline Utley
1969 Mary Cox Ward Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Johnson City 1st-Miss Bells, Donna Marie Ford 2nd-Miss Memphis, Suzanne Marie Dennie 3rd-Miss Union University, Beverly Williams 4th-Miss Knoxville, Linda Anne Mountain		1970 Carol Ferrante Rasberry Miss Memphis 1st-Miss Nashville, Marsha Alice McDonald 2nd-Miss Johnson City, Nancy Carol Luntsford 3rd-Miss Memphis State University, Linda Diane Thompson 4th-Miss Chattanooga, Beverly Hartshorn	1971 Marsha McDonald Miss Memphis State University 1st-Miss Memphis, Betty Ann Hunt 2nd-Miss Carter County, Nancy Carol Luntsford 3rd-Miss Weakley County, Susan Turbeville 4th-Miss Chattanooga, Wanda Chubbs	1972 Debbie Cathey Burger Miss Nashville 1st-Miss Jackson State Community College, Karen Leigh Cooley 2nd-Miss Johnson City, Carol Ann Hurd 3rd-Miss Rhododendron, Dianna Marie Warren 4th-Miss Lambuth College, Carolyn Camille Davis
1973 Anne Randle Galloway Miss Memphis 1st-Miss Memphis State University, Betty Ann Hunt 2nd-Miss Belmont College, Connie Beatrice Milligan 3rd-Miss Rhododendron, Diana Marie Warren 4th-Miss Knoxville, Marian Anthony Gulliford		1974 Deborah Kincaid Gooch Top 10 at Miss America Preliminary Talent Winner Miss Memphis State University 1st-Miss Belmont College, Brenda Joyce Thompson 2nd-Miss Union University, Kathy Maglivia Bell 3rd-Miss Chattanooga, Janet Elaine Cochrane 4th-Miss Memphis, Rebecca Ann Moore	1975 Marion Burgess Flannigan Miss Bells 1st-Miss Rhododendron, Linda Gail Little 2nd-Miss Lambuth College, Jana Lee McDaniel 3rd-Miss Lincoln Memorial University, Victoria Leigh Vance 4th-Miss Memphis State University, Connie Jean Kelley	1976 Terry Jean Alden Miss Memphis 1st-Miss Union University, Mona Ruth Vaughn 2nd-Miss Knoxville, Janet Maureen Keeton 3rd-Miss UT Martin, Allison Elise Neal 4th-Miss Tipton County, Ellen Claire Shankle
1977 Llynda Faye More Top 10 at Miss America Preliminary Swimsuit Winner Miss Nashville www.MoreGendel.com 1st-Miss Memphis State University, Billie Ann Johnson 2nd-Miss Tipton County, Connie Jean Kelley 3rd-Miss Chattanooga, Eunice Elizabeth Belew 4th-Miss Bells, Ellen Claire Shankle		1978 Jill Beshears Fant Miss Memphis State University 1st-Miss Paris, Allison Elise Neal 2nd-Miss Okra, Connie Jean Kelley 3rd-Miss Nashville, Shirley Elizabeth Binkley 4th-Miss Memphis, Tina Marie Majure	1979 Elise Neal Davis Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Okra 1st-Miss Tipton County, Billie Ann Johnson 2nd-Miss East Tennessee State University, JoAnn Peterson 3rd-Miss Knoxville, Nancijean Dolfi 4th-Miss Chattanooga, Doris Jeane Knisley	1980 Sarah Leonard Vaughn Miss Historic Jonesborough 1st-Miss Carson-Newman College, Susan Kay Newman 2nd-Miss Johnson City, SuEllen Rice 3rd-Miss Memphis, Billie Ann Johnson 4th-Miss Chattanooga, Desiree Denise Daniels
1981 Angelina Johnson Cole Miss Madison 1st-Miss Union University, Rita Adair Simpson 2nd-Miss Knoxville, Susan Kay Newman 3rd-Miss Forest Festival, Billie Ann Johnson 4th-Miss Roane State Community College, Sarah Elizabeth Sisk		1982 Desiree Daniels Disterdick 1st Runner up to Miss America Preliminary Swimsuit Winner Miss Hamilton County 1st-Miss Knoxville, Moira Alice Kaye 2nd-Milan Crown & Scepter, Rita Adair Simpson 3rd-Miss Memphis, Elizabeth Katherine Johnson 4th-Miss Memphis, Anita Cozette Knight	1983 Moira Kaye Ely Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Roane County 1st-Miss Johnson City, Sonya Elizabeth Pleasant 2nd-Miss Austin Peay University, Sharon Rae Bell 3rd-Miss Belmont College, Lisa Ann Tucker 4th-Miss UT Martin, Laura Ferguson	1984 Shelly Mangrum Top 10 at Miss America Miss West Tennessee State Fair 1st-Miss East Tennessee Strawberry Queen, Deborah Denise Cowart 2nd-Miss Chattanooga, Marty Elizabeth Browning 3rd-Miss Okra, Elizabeth Katherine Johnson 4th-Miss Forest Festival, Sharon Rae Bell
1985 Sonya Pleasant Roth Miss Wautauga Valley 1st-Miss Nashville Suzanne VaLee Dewey 2nd-Miss Austin Peay State Regina Lynn Athmos 3rd-Miss West Tennessee State Fair Kris Ann Beasley 4th-Miss Lane College Cynthia Ann McLeod		Miss America 1987 1986 Kellye Cash Sheppard Miss Milan Crown and Scepter Preliminary Swimsuit at Miss America Preliminary Talent at Miss America Miss America 1987 Kellye's website 1st-Miss Memphis Kris Ann Beasley MD 2nd-Miss Belmont College Kristy Hendley 3rd-Miss Memphis State University Marty Diane Slayton 4th-Miss Johnson City Carol Lee Meadows		1986 Kris Beasley Leventhal Now!
1987 Regina Lynn Athnos Miss Tennessee Peach Festival 1st-Miss Libertyland Mary Ann Mauth 2nd-Miss Knoxville Julie Ann Watson 3rd-Miss Memphis State University Tasha Ann Thomas 4th-Miss Frontier Days Suzanne VaLee Dewey				1988 Carrie Folks Strang Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Bluegrass Festival 1st-Miss Memphis State University Mary Ann Mauth 2nd-Miss Tennessee Peach Festival Betsy Ann Drewry 3rd-Miss Belmont College Lisa Kaye Stewart 4th-Miss Milan Crown & Scepter June F M Holmes

1989 Lisa Robertson Miss Cleveland 1st-Miss Johnson City Paula Jo Jones 2nd-Miss Nashville Cynthia Diane Owen 3rd-Miss Belmont College Janet Clowes 4th-Miss Libertyland Tasha Anne Thomas		1990 Dana Brown Shaffer 2nd Runner up to Miss America Miss Frontier Days 1st-Miss MTSU Leah Hulan 2nd-Miss Chattanooga Lisa Kaye Stewart 3rd-Miss Kingsport Lisa Gray 4th-Miss Okra Courtney Stewart	1991 Jill Horn Mulrooney Miss Memphis 1st-Miss Johnson City Susan Leonard 2nd-Miss Memphis State University Dawn Chimene Baskett 3rd-Miss Forest Festival Samantha Jane Morton 4th-Miss Nashville Lacey Wadlington	1992 Leah Hulan Miss Knoxville 1st-Miss Nashville Kelly Lee Smith 2nd-MissLibertyland Lacey McCutcheon Wadlington 3rd-Miss Hub City Jocelyn Raynette Ingram 4th-Miss Davidson County Wendy Carol Miller
1993 Kathleen Brang Mesmer Miss Historic Jonesborough 1st-Miss Cleveland Rhonda Denise North 2nd-Miss Nashville Wendy Nicole Baker 3rd-Miss Milan No-Till Jeana Elizabeth Maxey 4th-Miss Memphis State University Tricia Lynn Scott	-	1994 Lori Smith Lankford Miss Tennessee Tech 1st-Miss UT Martin Melanie Renee Foley 2nd-Miss Fall Fest Gina Renee King 3rd-MissTennessee Apple Festival Gina Kathleen Garren 4th-Miss Milan No-Till Lee Wilkerson Haney	1995 Ali Shumate Fowler Non Finalist Interview at Miss America Miss Knoxville 1st-Miss MTSU Kelly Lee Culbreth 2nd-MissCumberland County TAD Lanna Suzanne Keck 3rd-Miss Unicoi County Jennifer Alyssa Colinger 4th-Miss Bluegrass Festival Tara Elizabeth Boosey	1996 Jeni Stephens Miss Memphis 1st-Miss West Tennessee Jennifer Kay Baker 2nd-Miss Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Jenny Fisher Telwar 3rd-Miss Cleveland Ester Wong 4th-Miss Mufreesboro Kelly Lee Culbreth
1997 Lanna Keck Smith Miss Milan No-Till 1st-Miss Heart of Tennessee Kerry Leigh Lovelace 2nd-Miss Knoxville Ashlee Beth Ellis 3rd-Miss MTSU Allison Hatcher 4th-Miss Nashville Kelly Lee Culbreth		1998 Heather Heath Ryan Miss Heart of Tennessee 1st-Miss Historic Jonesborough Brandy Marie Burnette 2nd-Miss Rocky Top Jessica Ann Lynch 3rd-Miss Northern Tennessee Allison Hollin 4th-Miss Springfield Ashley Nicole Gibbons	1999 Allison Alderson DeMarcus Miss Memphis 1st-Miss Murfreesboro Tara Elizabeth Boosey 2nd-Miss Knoxville Ashlee Beth Ellis 3rd-Miss Music City Allison Hatcher 4th-Miss Bristol Heather Ashley Norman	2000 Beth Hood Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Cleveland 1st-Miss Cumberland County Heather Ashley Norman 2nd-Miss Memphis Tracee Roderick 3rd-Miss Kingsport Misty Spring Baker 4th-Miss Knoxville Elizabeth Jane Chedester
2001 Stephanie Culberson 2nd Runner up to Miss America Miss Cleveland 1st-Miss Chattanooga Jamie Watkins 2nd-Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Brittney Suzanne Eskew 3rd-Miss MTSU Ashley Carol Brooks 4th-Miss West Tennessee Whitney Paige Johnson		2002 Valli Kugler Kelly Miss UT Martin 1st-Miss Riverview Brittney Suzanne Eskew 2nd-Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Lindsey Tapper 3rd-Miss Midlander Christina Lam 4th-Miss Bluegrass Festival Ashley Carol Brooks	2003 Jamie Watkins Davenport Miss Scenic City Now! 1st-Miss Tennessee Valley Ashley Carol Brooks 2nd-Miss Music City Tiffany Ann Reed 3rd-Miss Central Tennessee Randi Armour 4th-Miss UT Martin Hailey Brown	2004 Ashley Eicher Non Finalist Talent at Miss America Miss Murfreesboro 1st-Miss Scenic City Ashley Carol Brooks 2nd-Miss Metropolitan Lindsey Moffett 3rd-Miss Southeast Tennessee Natalee Beeler 4th-Miss Tennessee Valley Robyn Forbess
2005 Tara Burns Miss Music City Non Finalist Talent at Miss America 1st-Miss Mid South Jessica Wheeler 2nd-Miss Capital City Lindsey Tapper 3rd-Miss Chattanooga Ansley Reagan 4th-Miss Southeast Tennessee Jessica Heim		2006 Blaire Pancake Miss Metropolitan 1st-Miss Cleveland Ansley Reagan 2nd-Miss Pioneer Rebecca Turner 3rd-Miss Hamilton County Stefanie Wittler 4th-Miss Memphis April Lancaster	2007 Grace Gore Miss Lexington Top 15 at Miss America Quality of Life Finalist 1st-Miss Hamilton County Ansley Reagan 2nd-Miss Metropolitan Tucker Perry 3rd-Miss Capital City Ashley Cole 4th-Miss Mila No-Till Ellen Carrington
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