Miss Nelson is Queen of the 114th Holly Ball
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| Front from left, First District Congressman Robert Wittman prepares to crown Taylor Ann Nelson as Queen of the 114th Holly Ball as attendants Laura Chilton Ransone and Eleanor Bryce Ward Smith look on. In the back, from left, are escorts Gray Fairfax Bryant, Scott Heric Heyman and Tyler Alexander Reeves. |
Miss Taylor Ann Nelson of Weems was crowned Queen of the Holly Realm Monday evening, December 28, at Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club in Kilmarnock.
Nearly 500 guests were in attendance and cast their respective votes. Miss Nelson was chosen to serve as the 114th Queen of the Holly Ball, the Tidewater Foundation’s fund-raising arm.
Sixteen Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula area debutantes were presented at this year’s Holly Ball.
First District Congressman Robert Wittman of Montross provided the eloquent oration for the gala event and crowned Miss Nelson with the traditional crown worn by former queens. Miss Nelson succeeds 2008 queen Miss Abigail Leigh Robbins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Stoneham Robbins of White Stone.
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iss Nelson is the daughter of Ms. Jean Nelson of Weems. She was presented by Kenneth Michael Homsey and escorted by Gray Fairfax Bryant of Irvington.
Miss Nelson chose as her attendants Miss Laura Chilton Ransone, a student at Virginia Tech and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcom Chilton Ransone of White Stone and Miss Eleanor Bryce Ward Smith, a student at The College of William and Mary and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Howard Smith of White Stone. Miss Ransone was presented by Mr. Ransone and escorted by Mr. Scott Heric Heyman of Urbanna, and Miss Smith was presented by Mr. Smith and escorted by Mr. Tyler Alexander Reeves of White Stone.
Mr. Richard A. Farmar III served as master of ceremonies for the event. He succeeds Mr. Ammon G. Dunton Jr., who served dutifully in this capacity for many years.
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 2009, the Tidewater Foundation made 29 such contributions, made possible by the proceeds of the 113th Holly Ball in 2008.