RHS Alumni Association honors state bicentennial at annual Tea Party

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 3/13/19

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale High School Alumni Association hosted its 11th Annual Tea Party on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Baldwin County Coliseum.

For the second year in a row, the …

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RHS Alumni Association honors state bicentennial at annual Tea Party

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale High School Alumni Association hosted its 11th Annual Tea Party on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Baldwin County Coliseum.

For the second year in a row, the team was held at the Baldwin County Coliseum after holding it for years at the PZK Hall in Robertsdale. It was moved last year because of a large increase in participants.

After increasing from 30 to 50 tables last year, the event included 57 tables this year, including seven displays that took up two tables.

“The Alumni Association would like to thank off of the wonderful hostesses and their fantastic guests for their continuing support of this program,” said event organizer Evelyn Lowery.

While there are traditionally no men allowed in during the event, at least one was allowed to take photos and partake in the festivities.

The event was started from humble beginnings with just a few participants, said event organizer Evelyn Lowery, and has grown to include more than 450 participants.

Each table is decorated with a central theme in mind. This year, tables were decorated with a “Faces and Places of Alabama” theme to celebrate Alabama’s 200th anniversary.

Several tables were decorated to feature cities and towns throughout Alabama, including Robertsdale, Pine Apple, Mobile, Monroeville, Eufaula, Muscle Shoals, Gulf Shores, Gee’s Bend, Talladega, Orange Beach and Fairhope.

Several famous Alabama natives were honored, including Hank Williams, Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Fannie Flag and first female football player Luverne Wise Albert.

The Class of 1952 featured tables decorated to honor former Alabama Supreme Court judges Janie Ledlow Shores and Lyn Stuart. The Class of 1943 had three tables set up to honor Robertsdale native and former Auburn and St. Louis Cardinals football player Joe Childress.

The Alumni Association crowned Jeanette Dyess Ryan as their 2019 Queen. Ryan is the author of many books about her life and her community. She has been a crusader for many causes including plans to save the old Elsanor School building. She was a contributor for many years for the local newspaper.

Ryan is a 1952 graduate of Robertsdale High School and has attended all of the tea parties except for one. She wrote the article about the first tea party and has faithfully supported the Alumni Scholarship Program.

All of the proceeds from the Tea Party and Tasting Spree will go towards the 2019 Scholarships for graduating Seniors who have plans to attend college.

There were also tables to honor Alabama and Auburn football, along with other state and local attractions.

Themes and hostesses for this year’s event were:

Auburn Football: Ashley Kucera.

Starts Fell on Alabama: Audra Shaw.

Robertsdale, Alabama: Casey Hopper.

Ada Dyess Cooper: Cheryl Russell.

Monograms & Big Bows (two tables): Cindy Schulze.

Pine Apple, Alabama: Class of 1937.

Joe Childress (three tables): Class of 1943.

Alabama Supreme Court Judges (two tables): Class of 1952.

Mobile, Alabama: Class of 1967.

Alabama Indians (two tables): Class of 1971.

Magnolias: Diane Havard.

Monroeville, Alabama: Dolores Sturma.

Festival of Flowers: Donna Givens.

Hunting: Donna Granger and Faith Tuberville.

Wild Alabama Shrimp: Frances Mitchum.

Magnolia Springs River Mail Rout: Gayle Pierce.

Azalea Trail Maids: Jackie Parker and Kim Lowery.

Outdoor Alabama: Janet Cheney.

Cotton & Vintage: Jenna Darby.

Baldwin County Fair: Jenna Darby.

Eufaula, Alabama: Jennifer Fidler.

Sweet Home Alabama: Jennifer Shipp.

Loxley Strawberry Festival: Jessica Giardina.

Hank Williams: Joni Wofford.

Muscle Shoals, Alabama: Joni Wofford.

Alabama Football: Jordan Johnson and Lauree Johnson.

Gulf Shores, Alabama: Joyce Callaway.

Alabama – The Music Group: Karen Bill.

Gee’s Bend, Alabama: Karen Bill.

First Female Football Player Luverne Wise Albert: Kathleen Harvison.

Talladega, Alabama: Katina Hubbard.

Gee’s Bend, Alabama: Lani Bill.

Camellia – State Flower: Lisa Terrell.

Edmund Pettis Bridge: Liz Richardsen.

Gingham & Seersucker Picnics (two tables): Mandy Moore, Beth Driver and Holley Smith.

Alabama Roses: Margaret Mickelsen.

Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Michelle Middleton.

Watermelons: Peggy Branch.

Huntsville Space Center (two tables): Rita Turner and Diane Foster.

Alabama Rivers: Rose Davis.

Robertsdale Stockyard (two tables): Ruthie Campbell.

Fannie Flagg: Sandra Clark.

Orange Beach, Alabama (two tables): Sarah Bodle.

Legend of Dogwood: Sarah Duncan.

Fairhope, Alabama: Stephanie Christensen and Jessica Arendall.

The Honeybee Festival: Stephanie Christensen and Jessica Arendall.

Mardi Gras: Stephanie Kroll.

Carolyn Harrison Sellars Memorial Table: Given by her family.

The theme for the 2020 tea will be “Hats Off to Disney” with tables decorated as movie, characters and events and has been tentatively set for Feb. 29. The 2021 Tea Party will be a celebration of Robertsdale’s 100th birthday highlighting businesses and families, with a tentative date of Feb. 27.

For more information visit the RHS Alumni Ladies Tea Fundraiser page on Facebook.