Our Most Recent Charity Ball Memories
2023 Charity Ball
King & Queen
Mrs. Susie McEachin Johnson, & Mr. Cornelius "CD" Smith
Royal Court
Karlie Ryan Pickett -
Daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Bailey Reese Pickett -
Daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Mason Knight -
Son of Chris Knight and Lifetime member, past president, & current National Association of Junior Auxiliaries chapter support coordinator Kim Knight.
Crown Club Court
Lauren Boutwell, Kinley Cain, Kaitlyn Foreman
Elizabeth Maxey, Alice McCracken, Isabelle Morrison,
Alexa Shirley, Libby Smith, Copeland Tillery, Liv Wheat
Mrs. Susie McEachin Johnson, & Mr. Cornelius "CD" Smith
Royal Court
Karlie Ryan Pickett -
Daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Bailey Reese Pickett -
Daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Mason Knight -
Son of Chris Knight and Lifetime member, past president, & current National Association of Junior Auxiliaries chapter support coordinator Kim Knight.
Crown Club Court
Lauren Boutwell, Kinley Cain, Kaitlyn Foreman
Elizabeth Maxey, Alice McCracken, Isabelle Morrison,
Alexa Shirley, Libby Smith, Copeland Tillery, Liv Wheat
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Mrs. Susie McEachin Johnson grew up in Meridian and graduated from Meridian High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Asbury University and her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She currently serves as MCC’s Arts & Letters/Theatre Director. She spent ten years as Meridian Symphony Association’s Executive and Education Director and previously coordinated youth plays and workshops for Meridian Little Theatre.
Susie has been active in the community for over 30 years, serving on various boards, committees, and partnerships, including MS Alliance for Arts Education, MUNA FCU, Riley Center for Performing Arts, the Any Given Child Initiative, MLT Youth, Meridian Children’s Chorus, Meridian Council for the Arts, Poplar Springs Arts Advisory Council, Meridian Christian Home Educators, Junior Auxiliary, Symphony League, and the Matinee Philharmonic Club. She has conducted workshops and taught classes for local home school organizations as well as Leadership Lauderdale. She recently worked as an Art Integration workshop instructor and Drama Arts Form Trainer/Consultant; was part of the first Meridian Children’s Museum Midnight at the Museum Gala; and worked with the planning team for The MAX Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. In 2010, Susie founded Stage 2, a teen/college theatre group emphasizing character development and community service. Take 1, its “sister group” for elementary students, began meeting and performing in 2019. Susie is a recipient of the statewide MAAE Exemplary Arts Service Award, the Judith Coursey Crowson Women’s Leadership Award, MS Arts Educator Award, Meridian Star’s Top Ten Women, and MLT’s Best Musical Theatre Actress. Susie loves to read and travel. She has 3 children: Jenna and Mitch Whidden, Benjamin and Lauren Johnson, and KK Johnson. |
A native of Vicksburg, Cornelius “CD” Smith has lived in Meridian for 42 years and has done so much, known and unknown, to improve our community during that time.
CD is a Regional Director for AT&T, has oversight for 31 counties across Central Mississippi (MS), and interfaces with the MS Public Service Commission. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in business and industry and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Mississippi State University. He previously served on the national board of directors of the MSU Alumni Association and finished out his military career after 39 years of service as the highest enlisted position in the Mississippi Air National Guard, the state Command Chief Master Sergeant. CD has served on too many boards and volunteered in too many ways for us to list now, but to name a few, he is current chairman for board of directors at The Montgomery Institute, vice chairman for the board of trustees for Meridian Community College, chairman for the board of directors for the Meridian Community College Foundation, recently completed a 10-year term on the board of trustees for the MS Public Universities and Institutes of Higher Learning, and serves on boards for Weems Mental Health Center, Trustmark Bank, and the MS Economic Council. He has previously served on the boards of the EMBDC, Kiwanis Club, Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian Area Navy League, the United Way, State Games of MS, Meridian Symphony Association, Care Lodge, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club, and the Choctaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America. He has also received more awards and recognitions than we will go over now, but he was previously Citizen of the Year by The Meridian Star and MSU-Meridian Alumnus of the Year. He has participated in Leadership Lauderdale and Leadership MS, and if you are a soccer fan, you may know that the field at Meridian Community College is named for him. CD is a member of the Meridian Rotary Club and NorthPark Church. He is married to the former Linda Joyce Bishop and has three children: Cynthia, Drew, and Danielle, along with three grandchildren, Katelynn, “little”Drew, and Jasper. |
2020 Charity Ball
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King & Queen
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Susan Arrington Coffin is the daughter of Nancy and George Arrington.
Susan is a graduate of Lamar School and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, Susan was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She has continued to support her alma maters by serving on the Tri-Delta House Corporation Board for the past 12 years, and also served as President of Parents at Lamar School During her time in Junior Auxiliary, Susan was instrumental in carrying the vision and hearing screening program to Lamar School. As a Lifetime Member of Junior Auxiliary, she continues to support our mission in Meridian and Lauderdale County, including helping build Jeannie’s Place at Plant Playground. Susan serves on the fundraising committee for Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian and is a member of Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian-Partners. Susan is a member of Heritage Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She served on the Gala committee for the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. Susan is a former member of the Meridian Symphony Board. She has served as Chairman for Art in the Park and on the committee for Lauderdale County Relay for Life. She is a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Susan recently retired after working 30 years as a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist for East Mississippi-West Alabama Industrial Hearing Service. She and her husband, Bob, of thirty-three years have two children, Merry Grace Bussey (Anderson) and Robert Coffin (Vaughn), and one grandson, Robert Anderson Bussey. Susan's community involvement is a reflection of her passion for Meridian/Lauderdale County and her belief in the community’s extraordinary potential! |
Archie R. McDonnell, Jr is a native of Meridian and in his youth earned the prestigious achievements of Eagle Scout and the God & Country commendation. A graduate of Meridian High School, Archie attended The University of Mississippi, attaining a Bachelor of Business Administration, Majoring in Banking and Finance.
Archie has spent his professional career with Citizen National Bank, working there for 44 years. Since 1999, he has served as the bank’s President or CEO. His professional affiliations include the Bank Presidents Roundtable and the Alliance for Growth. Archie has served as Chairman and Board Member of both the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and the Community Health Improvement Network, the Navy League, the American Red Cross, Aldersgate Retirement Community, and the Meridian Symphony Association. He is an active member of Central United Methodist Church. Archie has received multiple professional and community awards over the years including the Hartley D. Peavey Entrepreneurial Excellence Award and the Al Rosenbaum Lifetime Achievement Award. Archie and his wife Mary (formerly McCauley) of 44 years have three children, April Clodfelter (Alan), Mary Frances Snyder (Ben), and Reeder McDonnell. They have six grandchildren: Caden, Addison, Mary Jordan and Reed Clodfelter, and Nora and Benji Snyder. Archie McDonnell’s commitment to bettering our community is evident in all that he does through his professional and personal efforts! |
2019 Charity Ball
2019 King & Queen
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2019 Royal Court
Edie Davis - daughter of Lifetime JA Member Holley Davis, granddaughter of Lifetime JA Member Susan Speed
Mason Hill - son of past President and Lifetime JA Member Kristen Hill
Kirk Rogers- grandson of Lifetime JA Member Ellen Rogers
Reese Stump, & Remy Stump - grandson, & grandaughter of Lifetime JA Member Ree Pollman
Sally Kate Kennedy, & Simmons Kennedy - daughters of Lifetime JA Member Jenny Ruth Kennedy
Ann Martin McKenzie, & Reid McKenzie - daughter, & son of Associate JA Member Elizabeth McKenzie
Anna Morgan Mims, Maddox Mims, & Walker Mims - granddaughter, & grandsons of Lifetime JA Member Jill Aycock
Sarah Katherine Simmons - granddaughter of Lifetime JA Member Kathy Pigford, great-granddaughter of Lifetime JA members Dixie Pigford and Katherine Perry
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Clair Griffis Huff was born in Meridian, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Meridian High School and the University of Mississippi. Clair currently serves as the Meridian Public School District Arts Coordinator, an outgrowth of the Any Given Child/Meridian Initiative. She served for 17 years as Lead Teacher and Whole Schools Project Director at Poplar Springs Elementary which has been recognized as a Model School within the Whole Schools Initiative for the past 7 years. Recognized by MAAE as Outstanding Project Director as well as the Meridian Junior Auxiliary as an Outstanding Life Member, Clair holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from MS College and a BS degree from the University of MS. With over 24 years of experience in public education, Clair serves on the Any Given Child/Meridian Community Arts Team seeking to provide access and equity in the arts to all children in the Meridian Public School District. In our community, Clair serves on the MS Distinguished Young Woman Board of Directors and the Annual Program Committee as Host Family Chairperson. She serves on the United Way Woman’s Leadership Council specifically promoting literacy through the Power of the Purse event which funds Imagination Library for Lauderdale County. Clair currently serves on the Meridian Council for the Arts and the MLT Youth Committee. She has previously served 2 terms on the board of the Meridian Little Theatre and served as President, Vice President and Mini Grants Chairperson of Junior Auxiliary of Meridian. The Huffs are active members of Central United Methodist Church. Clair and her husband, Brad, are the parents of four adult children… Sarah Margaret, Laura, Meme and Miles. In her spare time, she loves gardening, reading, exercising, Ole Miss sports and the arts!
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Lee Valentine was born in Newton, MS and graduated from Decatur High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi, his graduate degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Since 2014, Lee has served as the Director of Medical Education at East Central HealthNet Rural Family Medicine Residency Program, and the Medical Director of the Meridian Free Clinic. He also currently serves on active staff of Rush Foundation Hospital, John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital, and Laird Hospital.
Lee is a member of The National Board of Examiners of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, the American Osteopathic Association, has served two terms as President of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians and the Mississippi State Medical Association. He has served as the Chairman of the Department and Adjunct Professor of Family Practice at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, been a board member of Boy Scouts of America, and a board member and volunteer physician at the Meridian Free Clinic. For 10 years, Lee served as a Lieutenant Colonel Flight Surgeon and Medical Officer with the 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard. He has an Instrument rating as a private pilot and has judged numerous Mississippi Junior Miss Programs. He was awarded the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Master Preceptor Award, The William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine “Shoe Leather” Award for service beyond the call of duty, and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award. Lee and his wife, Helen, have three children, Patton (Rachel), Nelson (Liza), and Mary Lela (Adam). They have one granddaughter, Ellie, and another granddaughter on the way. They are active members of Central United Methodist Church. |
2018 Charity Ball
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