The Southern Debutante Assembly held its 2017 Presentation and White and Gold Ball on the evening of Dec. 29, 2017, at the Greenwood Country Club in Greenwood. Twenty-five debutantes were presented to society at the event.

Flickering candles in hurricane lamps lined the drive to the clubhouse entrance. Twinkle lights entwined a pair of Christmas trees flanking the double-door entry and the pine garland framing the entry. Matching sprays of white dendrobium orchids, porcelana roses, Fuji mums, antique hydrangeas and seasonal greenery were displayed on the doors.

Members of the assembly’s Governing Board greeted the honorees’ guests entering the foyer. Several hundred attended from around Mississippi and other states.

On opposite sides of the foyer, consoles held matching arrangements of blush sweetheart roses, blush hydrangeas, dendrobium orchids, Fuji mums and silver dollar eucalyptus on the lamp bases.

Between the two sets of double doors leading from the foyer to the ballroom was a tall Douglas fir Christmas tree decorated with small clusters of white daisy mums, white Fuji mums, crystal icicle ornaments, gold metallic ribbon and white twinkle lights.  

Along the walls of the ballroom, lighted sconces displayed compact arrangements of white Fuji mums, white dendrobium orchids, gypsophila and silver dollar eucalyptus.

The honorees were presented before a massive arrangement of white gladioli, porcelana roses, white dendrobium orchids, white stargazer lilies, white Fuji mums, antique hydrangeas, gypsophila, silver dollar eucalyptus and areca palm fronds displayed in a ceramic garden urn atop a fluted gilt pedestal.

At the opposite end of the ballroom, the debutantes took their places on a dais accented by four tall white columns, each topped with an arrangement of porcelana roses, white stargazer lilies and silver dollar eucalyptus.

Positioned against this backdrop was a pair of large arrangements of white gladioli, porcelana roses, white dendrobium orchids, white stargazer lilies, white Fuji mums, antique hydrangeas, gypsophila, silver dollar eucalyptus and areca palm fronds displayed in ceramic urns atop fluted gilt pedestals. Flanking each side of the dais were three Christmas trees decorated with gypsophila, shiny gold ornaments and white twinkle lights.

The officers of the Cavaliers were introduced to the assembled guests. Serving this year were Mr. Raines Clanton Cook of Greenwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Clanton Cook Jr., and Mr. Cooper Lee Dunn of Greenwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Ernest Dunn.

Mr. Hugh Anslum Warren III of Greenwood introduced the master of ceremonies for the presentation, Mr. William McBride Yandell III of Memphis, Tennessee.

Wearing white formal ball gowns, the debutantes carried bouquets of snow-white roses and Christmas greenery hand-tied with gold silk sparkle ribbon.

The pages wore long gowns of holly berry red silk chiffon and carried nosegays of variegated holly and Christmas greenery hand-tied with shimmering gold ribbon.

Throughout the presentation and introduction of the honorees, The Sessions of Jackson played traditional favorites. The band later played for dancing during the appointed hours.

Following the presentation, the honorees and their guests enjoyed dancing and visiting at tables positioned around the ballroom floor at the White and Gold Ball.

Each table was centered with an arrangement of white Fuji mums, porcelana roses, blush sweetheart roses, heather and Christmas greenery surrounded by flickering votive candles on a mirrored base.

In the Garden Room, opening from the ballroom, buffet tables skirted in white linen and overlaid with gold embroidered silk organza offered an extensive array of heavy hors d’oeuvres. The focal point of the center table was a towering arrangement of white gladioli, porcelana roses, white dendrobium orchids, white stargazer lilies, white Fuji mums, antique hydrangeas, gypsophila, silver dollar eucalyptus, curly pine and areca palm fronds in a gilt ceramic garden urn. Smaller complementary arrangements were entwined on silver candelabra bases on the two end tables.

In a separate area of the clubhouse, Johnny Jennings of Greenwood played current favorite tunes as the pages and page escorts enjoyed refreshments, dancing and visiting. Tables skirted in holiday linens were positioned around the dance floor and centered with arrangements of Christmas greenery.

Debutantes presented

The debutantes presented to society included:

Darden Majure Pilkinton, daughter of Mrs. Todd Clarence Tauzin of Ridgeland and Dr. James Clark Pilkinton of Boligee, Alabama. Presented by Mr. Todd Clarence Tauzin, Miss Pilkinton was escorted by her cousin, Mr. Drew Huffman Cunningham of Collierville, Tennessee.

Leah Margaret Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Lee Thompson of Meridian. Miss Thompson was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Mr. William Tate Thompson of Meridian.

Pages to the debutantes

Marguerite Elizabeth Roberson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Marion Roberson II of Vicksburg

Events honor debutantes, others in Golden Season

In association with the Southern Debutante Assembly’s Presentation and White and Gold Ball, held in December in Greenwood, several events honored the debutantes, pages, page escorts and others.

Dinner and Dancing at Greenwood Country Club

Following a late-afternoon rehearsal of the Presentation on Dec. 28, a dinner honoring nine debutantes was held at the Greenwood Country Club in Greenwood.

Centerpieces on the guest tables were arrangements of fresh-cut Leyland cypress and Nandina holly berries in recognition of the season. Votive candle flames flickered throughout the dining area.

Immediately following the dinner, the Cavaliers honored the debutantes with a dance. Tables and chairs were rearranged to make space for dancing to contemporary favorites played by Blue Elephant Club of Delta State University in Cleveland.

Sharing honors for the dinner were Mary Quinn Dulaney of Tunica; Katherine Elizabeth Johnson of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Mary Evelyn McLean and Virginia Malone Owen, both of Tunica; Darden Majure Pilkinton of Ridgeland; Melissa Logan Sones of Grenada; Anne Carrie Swoope of Madison; Mary-Brister Thomas of Honolulu; and Leah Margaret Thompson of Meridian.

Parents honoring their daughters were Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thomas Dulaney, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lee Kent, Mr. and Mrs. William Campbell McLean Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Will Whitten Owen Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Todd Clarence Tauzin, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mitchell Sones II, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gray Swoope Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Mark Edward Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Lee Thompson.

Master of Ceremonies Party

On Dec. 28, the evening before the Presentation and Ball, the Southern Debutante Assembly held a cocktail buffet honoring Mr. William McBride Yandell III of Memphis, the master of ceremonies for the Presentation and Ball, at the Historic Elks Building in downtown Greenwood.

Christmas-red candles in handcrafted wrought-iron obelisks surrounded by seasonal arrangements of Nandina holly berries and silver dollar eucalyptus on mirrored bases served as centerpieces, accented by flickering votive candles. Guests enjoyed light hors d’oeuvres as they visited from table to table. 

Receiving guests with Mr. and Mrs. Yandell was Mrs. Richard Cunliffe McBee III of Greenwood, assembly advisor.