By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

Relay Around the World, the American Cancer Society’s Lowndes County Relay for Life, held Friday at the Russell Baseball Complex in Hayneville, drew 18 teams with 100 percent participation and raised a gross total of $43,500 with teams still turning in money, said Zandra Colston, event co-chairman.

“I was very pleased to see how the community came together to give hope and celebrate the lives of those who battled cancer, to remember the lives of those we have lost and ultimately put an end to cancer,” Colston said. “The event was amazing. It was well attended and very successful.”

Laura Gresham, who is a survivor, headed the sponsorship committee, Colston said. “Her hard work paid off when we received $6,850 in sponsorships. This is the most I have seen donated since I have chaired this event,” Colston said.

Cassandra Washington, a nearly three-year breast cancer survivor, was crowned 2013 Miss Relay. She raised $325 according to Colston.

“Actually, I’m shocked,” Washington said of being crowned. “But actually, I’m doing it for other survivors to let them know you can enjoy life after surviving breast cancer and let them know that there is hope.”

Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd and his assistant Natalie Johnson cooked Italian Food for the Educators Against Cancer booth. Boyd was a three-time winner when the food was judged at past relay events.

“I think the Relay for Life is an outstanding program. It’s for an awesome cause,” Boyd said. “It brings several different organizations together to have a good time… I think it’s just a wonderful cause.”

Amy James, a caregiver was participating in Relay for Life for her mother, who she lost to cancer.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing to let people know that you can survive cancer.”

Michele Hollingshead is a four-time cancer survivor who has been cancer free for nine years. She suffered breast cancer, ovarian and uterine cancer

“I think it’s wonderful to get the word out there,” she said. “It gives hope because without the relay and raising money, there would probably never be a cure.” She said she wants see the youth educated and involved in the fight against cancer “because cancer doesn’t see any age or anything.”

 

2013 Teams included:

Charles Smith Courthouse Annex – Linda Maddox; DHR Stars – Jackie Lee; Yolanda Thomas Crusaders/Friendship Baptist Church – Sophia Thomas; Greater Mt. Olive AME Zion – Vera Mickles; Pink Flamingos – Dorothy Howard & Mary Handy; Fighting to Win – Glenda McMeans; Educators Against Cancer 2013 – Bernard Mitchell;

SABIC – Kristy Brown and Jennifer Coker; Lt. Green’s Army –  Ardrell Greene; Snow Hillians Angels 2013 – Floretta Timmons; Hinson’s Heroes –  Eddie Hinson and Mrs. Green; Rock Creek Conquerors – Willease Cabble; SWAC –  Suoliver Jackson; Lily Fight For Life – Felicia McQueen and David Daniels; New Age Hippy – Mary Thompson; Legal Eagles – Adrian Johnson; Granny Warriors – Geraldine Lusane; and The Faithful Few – Mary Yelder.

 

Sponsor Award were:

Gold ($2,500) SABIC – IP; Silver ($1,000 – $2,499); Lily Missionary Baptist Church – Pastor Fletcher Fountain, Macedonia Baptist Church – Pastor Joseph Covington; Bronze ($500 – $999) Lowndes County Commissioners; Stage ($250 – $299) Jimmy Davis Auto Repair, Tom Coker & Associates, Ruby Jones-Thomas, Circuit Clerk, Subway and Tom Pringle.

Also recognized under Hospitality were Dr. Thomas Cawthon, Lyn Cawthon, and Eddie Hinson.

 

Awards winners were:

Top Fundraising Corporation (3701.13) – Board of Education (BOE) (Educators for a Cure/Bernard Mitchell; Top Fundraising Corporation second Place (3410.00) – SABIC IP (Kristy Brown/Jennifer Coker; Top Fundraising Corporation Honorable Mention ($969.00) – Legal Eagle (Judge Adrian Johnson.

Top Fundraising Church (5767.00) – Lily Missionary Baptist Church (Lily Fight For Life – Felicia McQueen and David Daniels; Top Fundraising Church second Place (3270.00)- Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (Yolanda Thomas Crusaders – Sophia Thomas; Top Fundraising Church Honorable Mention – (Greater Mt Olive AME Zion – Ms. Vera Mickles).

Top Community Fundraising (5860.00) – SWAC – Suoliver Jackson; Top Community Fundraising second Place (1725.00) – Pink Flamingos; Top Community Fundraising Honorable Mention – (Fight to Win – Glenda McMeans.

Top Fundraising Individual – (Suoliver Jackson $2947.00 – SWAC.

Best Campsite – SWAC-Suoliver Jackson; Best Campsite second Place – Two-way Tie

(SABIC Kristy Brown/Jennifer Coker and Educators for a Cure/Bernard Mitchell; Best Campsite Honorable Mention – Pink Flamingos.

Top On-site Fundraiser – (120) Lily Missionary Baptist Church (Lily Fight For Life, Felicia McQueen and David Daniels; Last Tent Standing – Rock Creek Conquerors (Willease Cabble; and Miss Relays 2013 – Cassandra Washington.

 

Special Thanks were made to participants, Pastor Franklin Nettles, Minster Richard Welcome – Associate Pastor Rock Creek Church, Lecale Griffin Searight and Hayneville Mayor Kelvin Lawrence.

Also thanked for entertainment were Pillars of Fire, Jerome Hinson, Lowndes County District Court Judge Adrian D. Johnson and Sonya Wiggins.

And thanked for their efforts were Tom Pringle – stage; Hayneville Police Department – security; Lowndes Sheriff’s Office security; Purdie & Sons – garbage; Lowndes County School’s Baseball & Softball Team; Lowndes County Riding Club; Hayneville Middle School Cheerleaders; Lowndes County 45 Strokers Softball Team; Zeigler’s in Selma, which helped to sponsor Saturday morning’s breakfast and all Relay for Life 2013 volunteers.

 

Lowndes County Survivors include, last names first:

Booker, Linda; Bowser, Alean; Broadnax, Alice; Brothers, Dorothy; Brown, Dorothy; Brown, Veronica; Cole, Jennifer; Cottrell, Racheal; Crum, Earnestine; Davis, Johnnie; Davis, Mary; Davison, Rosie; Dawson, James; Farrior, Patricia; Grady, Barbara; Gresham, Laura; Hamilton, Linda; Hardy, Ida; Hardy, Lakeisha; Hartley, Verdell; Hayes, Doris; Hayes, Nathaniel; Hill, Gloria; Hill, John; Holcombe, Robert; Hollingshead, Michele; Howard, Dock; Hunter, Francis; Jackson, Arlinda; Jackson, Author; Jeter, Jannie; Johnson, Connie; Johnson, Deloris; Johnson, Jessica; Jones, Rachel; Kelly, Doris J.; King, Vivian; Laister, Diane; Latimore, Juanita; Lowlery, Mary; McCord, Mary Elizabeth; McMeans, Bessie; McMeans, Mattie; McMeans, Linda; McMeans, Lillie Pearl; McWilliams, Abner; McWilliams, Mary; Miles, Carry; Miles, Joe; Middleton, Anthony; Moorer, Amy; Motes, Timcortien; Nelson, Arthur; Norris, Gladys; Parker, Mary; Porterfield, Daisy; Ray, Martha; Reese, James; Reese, Wamia; Reese, Valeria; Richardson, Felix; Rivers, Maggie; Rivers, Whirl Lee; Robertson, Roberta; Rowe, Rose; Smith, Crystal; Smith, Curtis; Smith, Evelyn; Smith, Janie; Smith, Mary Bell; Stubb, Rachel; Stubb, Ralph; Thomas, Trinette; Timmons, Floretta; Timmons, Maggie; Walker, Jame; Ward, Ralph; Washington, Annie Bell; Washington, Cassandra; Washington, Crer; Watson, Myrul; Williams, Barbara; Williams, Cherie; Williams, Wilbert; and Yulius, Ursula.