9 young women presented at Carolina Debutante Ball

The Carolina Debutante Society of Gaffney presented nine young women at the 13th annual presentation ball Saturday evening, May 3, 2008, in the Heritage Grand Ballroom at the Spartanburg Marriott.

Kaylin Carlisle Bradley Making their debuts were Kaylin Carlisle Bradley, Elizabeth Grace Epperly, Lara Kathleen Kesler, Sally Ann McCraw, Jordan Claire McDaniel, Katherine Olivia Rhyne, Christine Susan Ruffing, Erin Ashley Watson and Hannah LeeAnn Wood.

Miss Bradley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Russell Bradley. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dean Bradley and Mr. and Mrs. Billy Charles Mullinax, all of Gaffney. She was presented by her father and escorted by Timothy Matthew Childers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Powell Childers. Miss Bradley is a senior at Gaffney High School and a member of New Hope Baptist Church, where she serves on the Youth Council. She has served on mission teams to the United States, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Honduras. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina-Upstate and pursue a degree as a Nurse Practitioner.

Elizabeth Grace Epperly Miss Epperly is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Douglas Epperly of Blacksburg. Her paternal grandparents are Mrs. Kaula Epperly Dowdy of Christiansburg, Va., and the late W. Edsel Epperly. Maternal grandparents are Mrs. Agnes Cordle of Big Rock, Va., and the late Mr. James Ralph Cordle. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Tyler Douglas Epperly. Miss Epperly is a senior at Blacksburg High School, where is a varsity cheerleader and varsity basketball player. A member of First Baptist Church Gaffney Youth Group, she plans to attend East Carolina University in the fall.

Miss Kesler is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Karl Kesler. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Armand Coiner Kesler and the Mr. and Mrs. Howard Clair Vensel. She was presented by her father and escorted by Brendon Nancarrow, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Herrick and Dr. Douglas Nancarrow of Spartanburg. Miss Kesler is a member of First Baptist Church Gaffney. She is a senior at Spartanburg Day School, where she serves as co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She is also the Senior Class president, a position she also held as a junior and sophomore. She is first-chair trombone in the school band and has made Region Band for the past three years. She is also a National Merit Finalist and plans to attend Emory University in the fall.

Lara Kathleen Kesler Miss McCraw is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Kent McCraw. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Anne Richards McCraw and Mr. and Mrs. Lansford Arthur Hopper, all of Gaffney. She was presented by her father and escorted by Robert Adam Burgess of Taylors, son of Mr. Robert Clyde Burgess and Mrs. Randall James Barnett. Miss McCraw is a senior at Gaffney High School and plans to attend North Greenville University in the fall. She is a member of First Baptist Church Gaffney, where she is a four -year member of the Youth Council and serves on the Mission Task Force. She is the chaplain of the L'Etoile Club and a member of the Southern Jewels Diamond Clogging Team.

Miss McDaniel is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Alan McDaniel of Blacksburg. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Loyd A.Z. McDaniel, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jasper Earls, all of Blacksburg, and the late Mr. Ralph Hunter Patterson. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Hunter Alan McDaniel. Miss McDaniel attends Blacksburg High School, where she is captain of the cheerleading squad. She is a member of Hopewell Baptist Church and the Positive Charge youth group. She likes to sing and participate in gymnastics. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina Upstate this fall.

Jordan Claire McDaniel Miss Rhyne is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Shawn Rhyne. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Richard Rhyne and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bornard Dobbins, all of Gaffney. She was presented by her father and escorted by Brandon John Davis Clopton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Davis Clopton of Gaffney. A senior at Gaffney High School, Miss Rhyne is a four-year member of the Beta Club. She has been a member of the Sub Deb Club for three years and currently serves as treasurer. She studied dance at Julia's Dance Company for 15 years and participated with the clogging and tap competition teams. She is an active Christian and demonstrates her faith throughout the community and on various mission trips. She plans to pursue a major in Business Finance at Winthrop University.

Sally Ann McCraw Miss Ruffing is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Joseph Ruffing. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Edward Ruffing of Northville, Mich., and Mr. and Mrs. George Bland of Palm Harbor, Fla. She was presented by her father and escorted by Casey Fulton Rogers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fulton Joseph Rogers of Spartanburg. Miss Ruffing is an Honor Student at Spartanburg Day School, where she is a student government member, life editor of the newspaper and a member of the Homecoming Court. She attends Overbrook Community Church and is a volunteer with the Big Brother/ Big Sister Organization. She plans to attend the University of Notre Dame.

Miss Watson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Watson. Her paternal grandparents are Mrs. Shirley Collier Becker of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the late Mr. Albert Lewis Becker. Her maternal grandparents are Mrs. Merle Willard Wolff of Gaffney and the late Mr. James Fredrick Wolff. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Stephen Michael Watson. A senior at Gaffney High School, Miss Watson is a Teacher Cadet and has been a member of the tennis and soccer teams. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church Gaffney youth group and has participated in two mission trips to New York. She is a member of L'Etoile Club and plans to attend North Greenville University.

Katherine Olivia Rhyne Miss Wood is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Lee Wood. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. John Baxter Wood of Gaffney, Mrs. Burl Scott of Lawndale, N.C., the late Mr. John Baxter Wood and the late Mr. Burl Scott. She was presented by her father and escorted by Michael Madison McCraw Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Madison McCraw of Gaffney. Miss Wood is a senior at Gaffney High School and has been a Beta Club member for eight years. She is co-captain of the Southern Jewels Diamond Team and serves as treasurer of the L'Etoile Club. A South Carolina Business Week participant, she is a member of Grassy Pond Baptist Church and plans to attend Clemson University this fall.

Christine Susan Ruffing Master of ceremonies was Mr. James Mark Bunch of Gaffney. Pianist John Justin Troutman provided presentation music. After a seated dinner, music for dancing was provided by Sterling of Columbia.

The debutante season began on Sunday, Jan. 20, with the Opening Season Tea at the home of Mrs. Barry Lyndon Hamrick. Hostesses were Mrs. John David Alford, Mrs. Jodean Orlando Lemmons, Mrs. David Calvin McBee Jr., Mrs. Charles Marvin Moss III, Mrs. Allan Leslie Painter, Mrs. Jerry Thomas Stevens and Mrs. Grady Carson Waites.

An Amazing Race party was held on Feb. 23 for the debutantes and their mothers. Hostesses were Mrs. David Stephen Agapion, Mrs. Michael Alwood Ellis, Mrs. Philip Dewitt Hulsey, Mrs. John Quay Little, Mrs. David Calvin McBee and Mrs. Gregory Scott Moore.

The debutantes and their fathers attended a Skeet Shoot on March 29. Hostesses were Mrs. Jeffrey Alan Austin, Mrs. Timothy Monroe Bagwell, Mrs. Anthony Ray Christoph, Mrs. Phillip Wayne Martin, Mrs. Harold Dean Pennington Jr. and Mrs. Grady Carson Waites.

Erin Ashley Watson A manicure party was held for the debutantes and their mothers in April. Hostesses were Mrs. Timothy Powell Childers, Mrs. Joe Dee Howell, Mrs. Roger Loyd Jones, Mrs. Jodean Orlando Lemmons, Mrs. Charles Marvin Moss III and Mrs. David Shannon Phillips.

A rehearsal dinner party was held at the Spartanburg Marriott and hosted by Mrs. William Russell Bradley, Mrs. Colin Dale Duncan, Mrs. Barry Lyndon Hamrick, Mrs. James Oliver Hamrick, Mrs. Lyman Wylie Hamrick, Mrs. Robert Wayne Kaemmerlen, Mrs. Richard Shawn Rhyne, Mrs. James Robert Sanders Jr., Mrs. Larry Anthony Sossaman Sr., Mrs. Jerry Thomas Stevens,and Mrs. Grady Carson Waites.

Mrs. John David Alford, Mrs. James Mark Bunch, Mrs. David Earl Inman, Mrs. John Townsend Phillips, and Mrs. John David Sereno will host a post-presentation scrapbooking party on May 17.

Hannah LeeAnn Wood