Miss Morris crowned queen of the Holly Ball
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| Lt. Col. (ret.) Montgomery Carter Deihl crowns LeighAnna Virginia Morris the Queen of the 116th Holly Ball. Front from left are 115th Holly Ball Queen Jency McCullough Rogers, 116th Queen LeighAnna Virginia Morris, and attendant Miss Mary Jo Muse; back, Lt. Col. Deihl; Thomas Christopher Coleman, escort of Miss Morris, and Wayne Thomas Webb Jr., escort of Miss Muse. |
Miss LeighAnna Virginia Morris of Warsaw was crowned Queen of the Holly Realm Wednesday evening, December 28, at Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club in Kilmarnock. Miss Morris was chosen to serve as the 116th queen of the Holly Ball, the Tidewater Foundation’s fund-raising arm. Eight Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula area debutantes were presented at this year’s ball.
Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Montgomery Carter Deihl of Reedville provided the eloquent oration for the gala event and crowned Miss Morris with the traditional crown worn by former queens. Miss Morris succeeds reigning Queen Miss Jency McCullough Rogers of Reedville, daughter of Frederick Ray Rogers III of Reedville.
Miss Morris is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hart Morris IV of Warsaw. She was presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Thomas Christopher Coleman.
Miss Morris chose as her attendants Miss Mary Jo Muse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Flemming Muse of Bowlers Wharf, and Miss Kendall Carey Tignor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Eugene Tignor of Caret. Miss Muse was presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Wayne Thomas Webb Jr., and Miss Tignor was presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Leslie Grant Orem.
Mr. Richard A. Farmar III served as master of ceremonies.
The debutantes presented this year were Miss Heather Lynne Carter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Everett Carter Sr. of Lancaster, presented by Mr. Carter and escorted by Mr. Jordon Carey Rice; Miss Emma Shanklin Hand, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vandervort Hand of Lancaster, presented by Mr. Hand and escorted by Mr. Cale Coryell; Miss Emma East Hollowell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Warren Hollowell of Lancaster, presented by Mr. Hollowell and escorted by Mr. Alexander Lee Stephens; Miss LeighAnna Virginia Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hart Morris IV of Warsaw, presented by Mr. Morris and escorted by Mr. Thomas Christopher Coleman; Miss Mary Jo Muse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Flemming Muse of Bowlers Wharf, presented by Mr. Muse and escorted by Mr. Wayne Thomas Webb Jr.; Miss Ashleigh Nicole Saunders, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Evans Saunders of Kilmarnock, presented by Mr. Saunders and escorted by Mr. Clayton Dorsey Hinson; Miss Melissa Ann Schomer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Joseph Schomer of Lancaster, presented by Mr. Schomer and escorted by Mr. Weston Schomer; and Miss Kendall Carey Tignor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Eugene Tignor of Caret, presented by Mr. Tignor and escorted by Mr. Leslie Grant Orem.
Ushers serving at the 116th Holly Ball were Mr. Charles Parker Kirkmyer from Irvington, Mr. Austin Craig Revere from Hartfield, Mr. William Andrew Smith from Weems, and Mr. Alexander Joseph Nelson from Weems.
The proceeds from the Holly Ball are dispersed by the Tidewater Foundation to a variety of charitable organizations, supporting education and youth in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. During the last decade, the Tidewater Foundation, via its philanthropic and stewardship initiatives, has contributed approximately a quarter of a million dollars to local entities. In early 2011 the Tidewater Foundation made contributions to a variety of worthy causes, made possible by the proceeds of the 115th Holly Ball in 2010.
