The Camellia Ball held its 56th annual ball on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the Forest Lake Club. Ten debutante daughters and two debutante granddaughters, as well as fifteen guest debutantes, were presented.
The Camellia Ball’s President, Dr. Robert Middleton Malanuk, and Mrs. Amanda Malanuk received members and guests at a reception in the foyer to music provided by harpist Mrs. Clarke Chandler McNair. Following the reception, Mr. Robert Partridge Bethea, Jr., presented the 2023 debutantes with introductions.
The 2023 debutante figure was led by Miss Mary Abigail Malanuk, followed by Miss Mary Fleming Hampton Finlay. Miss Mary Abigail Malanuk was presented by her father, Dr. Robert Middleton Malanuk, and escorted by Mr. Andrew Michael Mason. Miss Mary Fleming Hampton Finlay was presented by her father, Mister Kirkman Finlay III, and escorted by Mr. Davis Myers Newman.
Next to make their debuts were Miss Sarah Poston Carter, who was presented by her father, Mr. Joseph James Thomas Carter II, and escorted by Mr. John Francis Chapman; Miss Lindsay Elizabeth Cribbs, who was presented by her father, Dr. Floyd Ashton Cribbs IV, and escorted by Mr. Russell William Richards; Miss Emma Henley Cureton, who was presented by her father, Mr. Frank William Cureton, Sr., and escorted by Mr. Gray McLendon Wilson; Miss Mattie Mills McMeekin James, who was presented by her father, Mr. Mark McCutchen James, and escorted by Mr. Murphy Ryan Howell; Miss Madeline Shelley Philips was presented by her father, Mr. Mallard Jackson Philips, and escorted by Mr. George Lee Mikell, Jr.; Miss Amelia Copeland Reynolds, who was presented by her father, Mr. Joseph Craig Reynolds, Jr., and escorted by Mr. Brailsford Yates Reynolds; Miss Paige Mae Tompkins, who was presented by her father, Mr. Jason Keith Tompkins, and escorted by Mr. Michael Clarke Schraibman, Jr.; and Miss Elizabethann Bethea Twitty, who was presented by her father, Mr. Don Christopher Twitty, and escorted by Mr. Mavis Eaddy Cagle II.
Two granddaughters were also presented at the celebration. Miss Floy Elizabeth Collis, granddaughter of Mr. James Preston Covington, Jr., was presented by her uncle, Mr. Michael Alan Burnette, and escorted by Mr. William Preston Collis. Miss Katherine Mercer Hough was presented by her grandfather, Dr. Walter Garland Edwards, Jr., and escorted by Mr. Mitchell Carlisle McCabe.
Guest debutantes presented were Miss Lyles Cooper Addy, who was escorted by Mr. John Elliott Epps; Miss Leah Graves Allen, who was escorted by Mr. Campbell McLain King; Miss Claiborne Ansel Bunch, who was escorted by Mr. Frank Hampton Gomila; Miss Emma Catherine Clayton, who was escorted by Mr. James Pete Leventis; Miss Amelia Langston Hanshaw, who was escorted by Mr. Samuel Henry Stockman; Miss Katina Patterson Hughes, who was escorted by Mr. Henry Simpson Augenstein; Miss Margaret McDonald Irvin, who was escorted by Mr. Charles Warren Irvin IV; Miss Francis Brewer LaMotte, who was escorted by Mr. John David Cate; Miss Sydney Elise Lanham, who was escorted by Mr. Walter Clayton Brabham; Miss Constance Wilbourn McCants, who was escorted by Mr. William James Kitchens III; Miss Katherine Clark Mullins, who was escorted by Mr. Anderson Manning King; Miss Elizabeth Harper Rickenmann, who was escorted by Mr. Samuel Joseph Edens; Miss Elizabeth Jennings Searcy, who was escorted by Mr. Alden Linwood Gibbs; Miss Margaret Sams Walker, who was escorted by Mr. John Bailey Moore; and Miss Emily Liles Wall, who was escorted by Mr. Wade Sullivan Oliver.
Each debutante carried a nosegay of camellias, pink roses, white freesia, Queen Anne’s lace, white hydrangeas, green trachelium, wax flowers, and pink bouvardia. Mrs. David Coleman Sojourner, Jr. graciously arranged all the florals for the event.
Dinner and dancing followed the presentation of debutantes. Dick Goodwin played the figure and first dance, and The Voltage Brothers provided music for the remainder of the evening. Following dinner, coffee was served in the foyer.
Seated at the Head Table were the Camellia Ball’s officers. Dr. Robert Middleton Malanuk, president, was joined by Mr. Silas Calhoun McMeekin III, secretary, and Mr. William James Kitchens, Jr., treasurer. The Board members included Mr. James Lawrence Best, Mr. Henry Spann Laffitte, Jr., Mr. Michael Eugene Penland, and Mr. James Roland Rhodes III. Mr. Robert Partridge Bethea, Jr., served as Chairman of the Ball, and Mr. Benjamin Edward Grimsley served as Co-Chairman of the Ball.
The following chairmen assisted with this year’s Camellia Ball: Mr. Joseph Craig Reynolds, Jr., beverage committee; Mr. Franklyn Deming Owen III, camellia cutting committee; Mr. Murray Arthur Baroody, Jr., coffee table committee; Mr. John Stuart Moore, Jr., debutante committee; Mr. Edward Coke Mann IV, debutante figure committee; Mr. Roger Craig Augenstein, debutante flower committee; Mr. Carter Harrison McEntire, debutante mother committee; Mr. Eric Michael Gluse, decorations committee; Mr. Richard Barry Lockwood, house and seating committee; Mr. Boyd Erwin Summers, invitations committee; Dr. Rudolph Mitchell Newman, menu committee; Mr. Robert Partridge Bethea, Jr., music committee; Mr. George William Owen, photography committee; Mr. Jay Thomas Thompson, publicity committee; Mr. Knowlton Davis Sanders, scrapbook committee; and Mr. Jason Keith Tompkins, stags committee.
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