Radiant in evening gowns in all the colors of the rainbow, the young ladies of the DD Club gathered for their annual Winter Formal in December at the Anniston City Meeting Center.

The social and service organization was formed in 1929, and each year holds a formal ball, where new members are welcomed and outgoing seniors are recognized.

Jon Holder (of Grace Radio, TV24 and Pigskin Roundup fame) emceed the event. Michael “Hollywood” Vice provided expert deejay skills. Claire Caballero snapped candid photos for posterity. Linda Jenkins, Mike Craft, Phillip Bass and club advisor Ellen Bass chaperoned the event.

Before the ball began, the girls and their escorts enjoyed dinner, during which the new club members were presented with framed collage prints of memorable photos from their pledge year.

New club members initiated include pledge class president Darsey Norton; pledge class vice president Sarah Holcombe; secretary Georgia Sedmak; treasurer Alayna Hancock; sergeant-at-arms Sela Bay Miles; plus Sydney Smith, Ashlon Slay, Rylee Segrest, Corey Phillis, Anna Brooke Payne, Madison Murray, Autumn Miller, Caroline LaFollette, Hallie Kulick, McKenzie Johnson, Ariana Johnson, Callye Cobb, Kristen Chandler, Madison Burroughs, and Calli Boyles, who was presented with a plaque and roses for receiving the “Most Outstanding Pledge” award for the year.

Home for the Christmas holidays, and helping with the dinner and Winter Formal, were former club president Hillary Henderson (who attends Auburn University) and former club secretary Savannah Becotte, who attends the University of Alabama.

The new members worked all summer to complete their community service hours.

Opening the Winter Formal’s lead out were the Ribbon Girls (eighth-grade girls, selected from schools throughout the county): Anna Laurie Cotton, Haley Cotton, Kylee Delozier, Camille Fink, Heather Floyd, Nicole Goodson, Hailye Hatton, Anna Jackson, Kelsey Jackson, Mattie Jackson, Maddox Johnson, Sarah LaFayette, Maria Limberis, Gracie Love, Sara Elizabeth Mason, Rivers Owsley, Alexis Paige, Olivia Simmons, Sydney Smith and Anna Marie Woodfin.

Prior to the December soiree, Katherine Westbrook (service project coordinator) and her mother, Deborah, hosted an orientation meeting for the girls. The pledge class even arranged a cute song to sing to them.

After the pledge class girls walked through the six-foot decorated wreath, members of the junior class were introduced: Alex Woodfin; Anna Turner; Savanna Simpson; Lauren Rothwell; Emily Rogers; Erin Phillis; Savanna Marion; Esther Grubbe and Cowan Angell.

DD Club officers this year include club president Lauren Bass; vice president Kacie Oglesby; secretary Lana Bell; treasurer Catherine Newton; service project coordinator Katherine Westbrook; historian Haley Jackson; chaplain Adele Fink; sergeant-at-arms Brooklyn Slick; and pledge advisors Samantha Kerper, Ashton Shropshire, Mallory Haynes and Ali Morris.

Seniors attending their last club formal were Madison Brooke Thomas, Katie Swinford, Allie Renfroe, Kayli Ray, Jaime Preston, Morgan Oliver, Morgan Martin, Molly Martin, Grace Fink, Allender Doggett, Shelli Davis, Kaelyn Crowe, Alex Burroughs, Cassady Bedford, Hanna Bates, Sally Barber, Christine Ankrom and Katie Buzan.

The past year has been a rewarding one for DD Club advisor Ellen Bass. She says the club has been blessed with a hard-working group of seniors, under the leadership of club president Lauren Bass (no relation to Ellen, although, Ellen says, she would “gladly claim her.”)

To share your news with Small Talk, contact Annette Maddox at starsmalltalk@yahoo.com.

Save the Date

Join The Visual Arts Society for its annual reception and membership drive, 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Classic on Noble. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine and the chance to snag some swag, and join the VAS for only $25 a year. Call 256-782-5626 for info.