GEMS OF MINDEN
MINDEN GEMS
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY
OF CAROL L. WHITFIELD
1936-1986
Miss Minden High School 1953
Miss Minden 1953
Miss Congeniality at the Holiday-In Dixie Contest 1953
Carol Whitfield was a daughter of Charles and Essie Mildred Moore Whitfield.
Carol is interred in the Gardens of Memory Cemetery on the Lewisville Road ;
Lots 25-26 in the Garden of Faith on row 13. You could not ask for a more loyal
friend. We still miss her.
In 1975, Renee
Kirkland, daughter of Carol Whitfield
& Derald Kirkland captures MHS Darling Title.
DEDICATED TO THE HONOR OF
EARLENE MENDENHALL LYLE
WHO IS NOW HOLDS MORE TITLES THAN ANY FORMER MISS MINDEN
DEDICATED TO THE HONOR OF
EARLENE MENDENHALL LYLE
Earlene Mendenhall Triple crown holder
Miss Civitian 1956
Miss Minden High School 1956
Miss Minden School 1956
Named Most Beautiful Girl in the Tide Talk
In 2006 she was named Most Illustrious Alumni
Author of The Minden Cemetery Book - She and her sister, Mrs. Barbara McLemore
Co-Authored Transcriptions from the Gardens of Memory Cemetery. For more
information on these books or to get information on how to make contributions to the
Minden City Cemetery e-mail EarleneLyle@AOL.COM
Two Minden girls were in this Miss Lincoln Parish contest in 1957 while they were attending La. Tech. At the far left is#11, Sandra Pullig; #1 is Earlene Mendenhall.
Compliments of Earlene Mendenhall Lyle
Sandra Pullig Smith
Winner of the only Miss Minden Contest held at the Joy Theater
by Box Office and sponsored by City Merchants around 1954.
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Pretty Erika Traynham, Grand daughter of Billy and LeVerne Kidd
Our Choice for 2006 Minden Gem
Some of us always thought Linda looked just like
Jane Mansfield driving around in her beautiful classic convertible.
Other's argued that she looked more like Marilyn Monroe. Whatever,
We think she belongs with the "Minden Gems!"
Linda Holt Morehead and her classic T-Bird
Linda Holt Moorehead again waving goodbye
This beautiful classic t-bird was destroyed when Katrina
hit New Orleans in 2005.
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Corky Marvin is introducing Miss USA Sharon Brown in front of the entrance to city halCompliments
of John Quade Photography, Minden, La.
Submitted by Quade Photography
Stan Quade is in the white shirt holding the camera taking the picture of Sharon Rene Brown
Sharon Rene Brown, Miss USA 1961
Sharon Rene BrownSharon never went to school in Minden. She had come
to Minden fromWaterproof, LA in the early summer of my Junior year at MHS
She was Miss Waterproof and then Miss La Tech and then, Miss USA.
The last time I saw her was long ago in Minden. her hair was in pigtails.
My mother thought she was the prettiest thing she had ever seen. She
had two younger brothers who were twins, named Lary and Gary.
Linda Holt Moorehead
Sharon Brown was a Freshaman at La. Tech during 1960-61 during (1958-1961)
cheerloader, (ROTC Sponsor Lagniappe Beauty. A two page spread honored
her as Miss USA.
Miss Sharon Brown, Miss USA 1961Sharon Rene Brown, Miss Louisiana 1961
Sharon Rene Brown, Miss Louisiana Tech 1961
Sharon Rene Brown, Miss Waterproof, Louisiana 1961
Sharon Brown, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Roy Brown
Eurlyne Howell, Miss Louisiana 1958
Photo by Bob Grambling, submitted by Greg Grambling
Eurlyne Howell
Photo by Bob Grambling, Submitted by Greg Grambling
Photo by Bob Grambling - Submitted by Greg Grambling
1957 Ford identified by Larry Mays, photo by Bob Grambling, Submitted by Greg Grambling
Eurlyne Howell
Miss USA 1958
Marilyn Ann McKinight, Miss America went to Lincoln Parish in 1957
Picture submitted by Earlene Mendenhall Lyle
Mary Ellen Bailey named Ship Pin-Up Queen
Mary Ellen Bailey
This picture of Mary Ellen Bailey (with a different background) was seen
by the crew on the ship, USS Mahopac, and as a result the boys voted
Mary Ellen, "Miss Mahopac, "pin up queen of the ship. The seamen sent
the Minden High school junior a few vital statistics of their ship and, she in
turn sent them vital statistics of herself.
CREW ON USS MAHOPAC ELECTS LOCAL GIRL QUEEN
When Minden High School drum majorette drum majorette Mary Ellen
Bailey got her picture in the Review a few weeks back she had no idea a Navy
ship crew way up in Alaska would see it and choose her as the pin-up queen
of their ship.
But that's exactly what happened. The crew of the U.S.S. Mahopac got together
and voted Mary Ellen as "Miss Mohopac".
The sailors voted the Minden high junior their pin-up queen when they saw a
crewman's copy of the Review which ran the picture several weeks ago.
The picture was taken by Robert Grambling who somehow seems to have a
magic touch when it comes to dabbing into photography. Director of the Minden
High School band, he won two places earlier this year in a photo contest by the
Shreveport Times, and now another of his picture had capture an honor.
The crew send Mary Ellen daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Bailey of 705 Buchanan
Street of Minden, some vital statistics of their ship as follows: 142 feet from bow
to stern, 32 feet across the beam, weight is 300 tons and has a complement of
44 men."
According to the crew members, the Mohopac has been to Alaska for seven years
of duty, and each man aboard serves 18 months aboard the ship.
In all fairness Mary Ellen feels she had to send the crew a few vital statistics of
her own, so she mailed them the following data: height 5'f", weight 120 pounds,
waist 23 inches, hips 34 inches, bust 34 inches, hair - brown, and eyes brown.
Mary Ellen not only helps the band but she can play in it too. She plays the
saxophone and the piano. Her hobbies are dancing and twirling.
One of her favorite pastimes is collecting miniature shoes - glass wooden, metal,
etc., and she hopes that the seamen who have adopted her as their pin-up girl
will help her out with the collection."
In case the Mahopac does leave Alaska, the crew can shop around for some
shoes for Mary Ellen in the various ports they visit.Tuesday, October 6, 1953
Earlene Mendenhall Triple crown holder
Miss Civitian 1956
Miss Minden High School 1956
Miss Minden School 1956
Former Miss Mindens also include
1953-2005 HISTORY OF MISS MINDEN'S OF WEBSTER PARISH
1953 - It has been over fifty years since CAROL WHITFIELD first won the title of
MISS MINDEN for WEBSTER PARISH. When she represented Minden in
the MISS HOLIDAY IN DIXIE contest she was voted Miss Congeniality
making her a triple holder since she had already won the Miss Minden High
School Contest in 1953. When Carol married Derald Kirkland
1953 - second runner up, SANDRA GRAY HUNT became Miss Minden 1953. Had
she not finished out the term Keith Clement would have became Miss Minden.
1954 - Betty Jean Davis Lumpkin, Carla Faye Green came in second and
Cortez David Cupples came in third.
1955 - Trudy Ann Brooks Bishop , Carla Faye Green came in second and Annetta Baker Kirkland came in third
1956 - Mary Jo Skinner Kirkland first won the title and forfeited two days later .
1956 - Annetta Baker Kirkland would have been Miss Minden however she forfeited to marry Gerald Kirkland which gave
the title to Earlene Mendenhall.
1956 - EARLENE MENDENHALL LYLE. It was Earlene Lyle who crowned the 1957 Miss Minden.Earlene Mendenhall Lyle also performed other duties of Miss Minden 1956...
Today, you might find her writing cemetery books and working to
raise money for the old Minden City Cemetery although she doesn't have anyone
buried there. She and Bob live in Alabama . I I ear they they may be looking for in Minden to build on.
1957 - Marcelee Robinson Culpepper Jeanette Woodard came in second and then
Wanda Miller was next.
1958 - Betty Rhea Deloach
1959 - Mary Virginia Nethring Kennon
1960 - Sandra Crockett Brown
1961 - Becky McKenzie Leopold
1962 - Elizabeth Ann Hardy Burnett
1963- Emily Van Horn Wilbert
1964 - Carolyn Reed
1965 - Betty Lou Cunningham McClure
1966 - Cheryl Parker Whatley
1967 - Jeanette Zachry Phillips
1968 - Karen Norman Van Horn
1969 - Rita Tyler Carrier
1970 - Judith Carter D'Angelo
1971 - Ellen Sullivan Kelley
1972 - Cindy Ritchie Walker
1973 - Carla Powers Herron
1974 - Melinda Morgan McMahone
1975 - Karen McKinney
1976 - Jessica Barkas Welch
1977 - Jerri Ray dePingre'
1978 - Janet Locke Clarke
1979 - Kelly Higginbotham Warren
1980 - Julie Curry Lamon
1981 - Stacey Austin Gloer
1982- Mary Beth Irving Love
1983 - Joanna Byars Marks
1984 - Terri Lynn McKinney
1985 - Sharon Irving Gorman
1986 - Majorie Blackwell McGowen
1987 - Michele Beckel Corley
1988 - Jeanne Dickson Patterson
1989 - Angie Holland Woodard
1990 - Allison Hanson Maxwell
1991 - Amanda Hamm dePingre
1992 - Heather Purtle
1993 - Cathy Jamison
1994 - Jennifer McGuire
1995 - Asleigh Albritton
1996 - Jodi McGuire
1998 - Amency Waters
1999 - Courtney Noles
2000 - Jennifer Culpepper
2001 - Megan White
2002 - Jessica Tucker
2003 - Jessica Wilson
2004 - Nicole Paisco takes the crown
2005 - Karen de Pingre (Miss Minden 2004 Nicole Poisso crowns Kara dePingre’ )2006 - Nicole Daye was Miss Minden
2006 - Jamie Wilson won Miss Louisiana
Evening Gown Competition
Bathing Suit Competition
The Miss Minden Pageant is sponsored annually by the Young Women's Service Cluband is a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant.
If you know of any corrections to the above please e-mail me at MindenMemories@Aol.com
If you have a picture of one of the above you would like to submit, please e-mail me so
we will be expecting it.
Miss Minden 2004
Nicolle Poisso takes Miss Minden crown
People' Choice Award & Winner of the Swim Suit Competition in 2005
Robbie Ann Kidd, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kidd of Minden, La.
FARM BUREAU QUEEN 2004
Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kidd of Minden, La.
Granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Billy Kidd of Minden, La.
Granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Roland Shilling of Blanchard, La.
FARM BUREAU QUEEN 2004
Robbie Ann Kidd
daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kidd and granddaughter of
Mr. & Mrs. Billy Kidd of Minden, Louisiana & M. & Mrs. Roland Shilling of Blanchard, Louisiana
Jennifer if the granddaughter of Mrs. Marcelee Robinson and the late (Tommy)
Culpepper of Minden, La. Marcelee was crowned Miss Minden in 1957.
1973 Grig
She is the granddaughter of 1957 Miss Minden, Marcelee Robinson Culpepper
Miss Denise Green is MHS Darling for 1959
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1975 Grig - Renee Kirkland was crowned by 1974 Miss Darling, Donna Greer
1973 Grig - Miss Denise Green is MHS Darling for 1959
Leonard Miller, Master of Ceremonies
Left to Right: Marsha Hoefeld, Mary Virginia Nehring, Denise Green and Diane Green (Twins
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARY VIRGINIA NEHRING KENNON died June 3, 2002.
Mary Kennon
Memorial services for Mrs. Mary Virginia Nehring Kennon, will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 3, 2002, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden with Dr. Ronald Price officiating.
Mrs. Kennon, a resident of Doyline, passed away Thursday, May 30, while at Dubuis Hospital in Shreveport. She loved living in the country enjoying her garden, flowers, birds and animals as well as managing her apartments. Mrs. Kennon was well known for her vivacious, energetic personality. Her absence has created a void, but her vitality has left a ray of sunshine that will never fade.
She was preceded in death by her father, Allen R. Nehring and grandparents, Julius C. Nehring of Wisconsin and Dr. and Mrs. S.C. Cade of Many.
She is survived by her two sons, Rodney Kennon and wife Jymme of Bossier City, John Kennon of Minden; daughter, Kelly Gillis and husband Don of Haughton; grandchildren, Brad, Steven and Jennifer Kennon, Jodi and Tyler Gillis, and Natalie Butler; parents, Vicky Cade Fischer and Clarence Fischer of Bossier City; brothers, Steve Nehring and wife, Sally, and Donald Fischer of Shreveport, and Greg Fischer and wife Karen of Atlanta, Ga.
Memorials may be made to Bossier Kids, Inc., 2125 Airline Drive, Bossier City, La., 71111, a foster care program supporting needy children.MISS M.H.S. DARLING 1957-1958
Sandra Crockett, Miss Minden 1958
Miss Minden 1957
Marcelee Robinson
MARCELEE ROBINSON - MISS MINDEN 1957
JEANETTE WOODARD - FIRST RUNNER UP
WANDA MILLER - SECOND RUNNER UP
Submiteed by LeVerne Langheld Kidd
MISS MINDEN CONTEST 1957
Earlene Mendenhall, Miss Minden 1956Crowns the new Miss Minden 1957, Marcelee Robinson
First runner up is Jeanette Woodard - Second runner up - Wanda Miller
Miss Minden 1956, Earlene Mindenhall crowns the new Miss Minden 1957.
Also in the contest was Lovely LeVerne Langheld below
This pretty Minden Gem is LeVerne Langheld
LINDA COX, Miss Civitan 1955.
Submitted by Quade Studio, Main St., Minden, Louisiana
71055 Miss Civitian Contest 1956 held at Caney Lake.
.L-R, Jeannine Mobley, Earlene Mendenhall, Nancy Cox, Mildred Aarons, Ann Mays,
Betty Claire Rhea, Jeanette Woodard,
Linda Atkins, and Kathy Walden and the winners are...
Earlene Mendenhall 1st, Jeanette Woodard 2nd, and Nancy Cox 3rd.............................................................................................................................
Earlene Mendenhalll was also elected Most Beautiful girl in 1956 by the Students
THE WINNER WAS EARLENE MENDENHALL
1956 TIDE TALK PICTURE
Earlene Mendenhall voted most beautiful in the Tide Talk
Mary Jo Skinner
MINDEN GEMS FROM The 1956 Grig
Submitted by LeVerne Langheld Kidd from the 1956 Grig
Submitted by LeVerne Langheld Kidd from the 1956 Grig
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Barbara Mendenhall,
Camelia Princess of the 60s
Mendenhall sisters crowned Miss Minden High School and Miss Minden Jr. Hi 1956
SISTERS WIN BEAUTY CONTEST
CROWNED MISS MHS
Jasper Goodwill, Mayor of Minden crowns Miss MHS 1956
Wasn't she Lovely?
Runners up were Mary Jo Skinner, Jeanette Woodard and Jeannine Mobley
Radiant Charming Barbara Mindenhall crowned by
Jasper Goodwill, Mayor of Minden in 1956
Runners up were Marsha Hoefed, Martha Sers, and Ann Frazier
COACH JOYCE EILEEN HILLARD'S WEDDING
This is the photo just after Joyce Hillard married Robert Patten. Pictured admiring her wedding ring are clockwise from left: Ellen Baker, Camille Ivy (Jeanette Woodard's head shows behind Camille Ivy.), Mary Jo Skinner, Ann Mays, Jeannine Mobley, Joyce Hillard Patten, Lyda Roberts, Ginger Rushing. (You will have to agree they are all pretty) Minden girls.
TRUDY WAS VOTE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE TIDE TALK
FIRST runner up to Trudy Brooks was Carla Faye Green
SECOND runner up was Annetta Baker
MHS - 1955 CARLA FAYE GREEN
CARLA FAYE WAS VOTED SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE TIDE TALK
MISS MINDEN 1955
Trudy was voted most beautiful girl in the Tide Talk
Miss MHS 1955 Carla Faye Green
Cortez David Betty Jean Davis 1954 Carla Faye Green
Milly Aaron's became Miss Minden High School when Pat Wilson forfeits to
marry Hugh Cranford in 1954.
See Milly's picture in her beautiful evening gown above on the right.
1954
1954 GEMS
1953
This is Carole Whitfield's picture when she was crowned Miss Minden High School.
Later she was crowned Miss Minden. She went to Miss Holiday in Dixie and won
the Miss Congeniality Contest making her a triple title holder. She held the title until
she became Mrs. Derald Kirkland.
1953 Carol Whitfield was crowned Miss Minden High School.
That same year she was crowned Miss Minden.
First runner up was Sandra Gray.
Keitha Clement graduated in 1951 but was
was 2nd runner up for Miss Minden in 1953
1952 Dorothy Jean Hunter was voted most beautiful girl in 1952
Submitted by Rowland Ivy - From the 1952 Grig
From the 1952 Grig - Most Beautiful. Submitted by Rowland Ivy
1951 Submitted by Rowland Ivy
Submitted by Rowland Ivy - From the 1951 Grig
Submitted by Rowland Ivy
Gloria Woodard 1950
1950 Marilyn Allgood, Betty Sue Britt, Patsy Carson, Betty Sue Britt
Submitted by Rowland Ivy -1949
From the 1949 Grig - Submitted by Rowland Ivy
1949 Grig - Submitted by Rowland Ivy
Submitted by Rowland Ivy from the 1948 Grig
The girls are: Bottom left -Bobbie Staples, left - Kirkikis,
Center - Betty Sue Alexander, right - Flois Gay, and
Bottom right - Ruth Brooks
1948
Submitted by Rowland Ivy -1947/8Grig
1947
Del Messer - Submitted by Quade Studio
Del was also homecoming queen in 1945
There were no Grigs published during the war years
Margaret French is the beauty beside Sue Willie Matthews
1940 Prettiest girl - Marybelle Butler
1939 Prettiest girl
1938 Prettiest Girl - Margery O'Kelley
1937 Pretties girl - Marie Lites
Geraldine Harkness, 1936 Prettiest Girl
Submitted by Ann Mays Harlan
Another surprise find while searching newspapersin the Minden library was this picture of Minden's recently
crowned Miss Minden of 1932, Nellie Graham Colbert.
Runners-up were Nancy Lee and Kay D. Drew.
Submitted by Earlene Mendenhall Lyle
Camille Daniels - Prettiest girl in 1925Submitted by Amy Wiley Jason
