Cotton Ball 2007: Celebrating 50 Years























Emmie Strain, Cotton Queen Katherine Kimmel and Thomas Gregory celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the JA Cotton Ball.

The Cotton Ball went off without a hitch again this year with Katherine Kimmel reigning as Queen Cotton for the 2007-2008 year. Bill Litton, owner of Wade, Inc., served as this year's King.

The festivities started for me, Emmie Strain, Patrick Johnson, and Raney Grantham with about two hours of tornado-like weather. Once the sirens quit blaring for long enough to let us leave, our crew finally left my non-tornado proof apartment and headed to the Civic Center.

As royal guests of the Queen herself, we were invited to the Patron's Party and headed in for some free booze and finger sandwiches. After inhaling a few pimento cheese sandwiches, we headed for our table. Then the party began.

Our royal table, R-11, was quickly inhabited by our previously mentioned crew and fellow Greenwoodians Sam Fonda, Meg Flanagan, Garner Williams, Phillip Sandifer and their respective dates. As the live auction wrapped up, we readied ourselves for the royal processional.

Following the trumpeting herald, the infamous words, "Hear ye, hear ye! All hail King Cotton!" was proclaimed as Queen Katherine and King Bill were announced. As they walked down the center aisle, they continued to make laps back and forth while their entire life story was revealed by emcee Floyd Melton before a packed house.

In fact, by the time they were finally wrapping up Katherine's extensive resume, I was secretly wondering if they were going to mention that she grew up across the street from me for good measure. Apparently, that was the only bit of information that was not told about either of the two royalty.

Once they sat on their thrones and waved their sceptres, Super Tyrone and the Tyrone Smith Review cranked up the tunes and the King and Queen shared their ceremonial first dance. The Cotton Maids and their dates soon followed with everyone else trailing not too far behind. The dancing continued well into the night and finally shut down around 1:00 a.m.

Since we had caught a ride to the Civic Center, we quickly began to look for a ride. The only one available was with the Queen Mum, Memrie Kimmel. She reluctantly agreed to give us a ride to the Country Club for the tail end of John Walker's wedding reception, but only after we helped her load flowers and table centerpieces to her car.

All in all, the Cotton Ball was great fun and a critical success. The Junior Auxiliary of Greenwood raised over $50,000 for the Greenwood-Leflore Hospital pediatric wing and successfully celebrated a 50th Anniversary of what has become a Greenwood tradition. Long live King Cotton!

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