North Carolina Past State Representatives
1960 - Sally Eisenberg Cohen, Winston-Salem - Retired medical doctor, lives in Boca Raton, FL with her husband. Two daughters.
1961 - Darlene Brigance Patterson, Charlotte - Named Miss Congeniality at AJM; BA from Guilford College in 1965. Lives in Ocean Isle Beach, NC with her husband. Owned a NASCAR marketing company, painted & designed mural homes. Three grown children & three grandchildren.
1962 - Brenda Nash Matthews, Charlotte - Graduated from Mercy Hospital School of X-Ray Technology & Duke University School of Nuclear Medicine. Worked as the Staff Nuclear Technologist at Charlotte Memorial Hospital for 34 years. Retired and living Sewanee, TN. One daughter and two grandchildren.
1963 - Judy Brown Woodard, Charlotte - Winthrop College graduate. Degree in Home Economics and Interior Design, owns a gift and stationery shop in Charlotte, where she lives with her husband. Three grown children.
1964 - Carol Ann Patrick, Goldsboro
1965 - Carolyn Campbell Ward, Charlotte - UNCC graduate with degrees in Biology & Spanish. Advertising Director of International Trade Association for Chemists. Resides in Mooresville with her husband. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.
1966 - Pamela Roberts, Asheville – AJM finalist; BA in Psychology & Music from Duke Univ.; attended Yale Grad. School of Music in Piano Performance & the USC School of Cinematic Arts & received her MFA in filmmaking. Former Exec. Producer GA Public Broadcasting—Retired; Freelance writer & producer of social documentaries; Winner of 6 Emmy awards; Resides in Decatur, GA.
1967 - Anne Jackson Benjamin, Ft. Bragg - UNCG graduate, received JD from Hofstra Law School; resides in Manhasset, NY, with her husband, retired attorney.
1968 - Kathryn Gentry Cates, Timberlake - Retired from Central Carolina Bank and lives in Hurdle Mills with her husband, has two grown children.
1969 - Susan Rowe Davis, High Point - UNC-Chapel Hill graduate with a Music degree; taught elementary and high school. Lives in Wake Forest w/her husband. One daughter.
1970 - Susan Tew Ocada, Roxboro - Graduate of Meredith College. Has Master’s of Education from NC State. Recognized as NC’s Outstanding Young Educator in 1982. She has one son and resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
1971 - Virginia Rogers Hicks, Roxboro - Master’s degree in Home Mgt/Interior Design from UNCG. Designer/sales coordinator for Carolina Builders. Resides in Apex with her husband. One son.
1972 Angela Lombardi Moore, Burlington – BA in English & American Studies from UNC Charlotte. Founder/CEO of Angela Moore, Inc. Designs jewelry, fashion and home accents. She and her husband divide time between Palm Beach, FL & Woodstock, VT.
1973 - Susan Pearce Locke, Greensboro - Fine Arts & Drama degree from UNCG; Aestheti-cian License from Atelier Esthetique, NYC. Owns Bella Mia Skin Care in Advance. Lives in High Point w/her husband. Has a son & daughter.
1974 - Stacey Lunsford Prillman, Roxboro - Wake Forest graduate with a Business degree. She continued her studies at Emory, USC and Columbia.
1975 - Sharon Lee Maness, Greensboro - Owned the studio Performing Arts for the Sharon Maness Dance Center and was director for 31 years. Lives in Winston-Salem w/her husband.
1976 - Joy Finch Reese, Kinston - Brigham Young University graduate w/Elementary Education & Music degrees. Resides in Kinston with her husband and has four children.
1977 - Vivian (Viki) Leigh Pace-Morris, Pleasant Garden - 1st Runner Up at AJM. Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill w/a Psychology degree. She is a realtor and lives in Chapel Hill with her husband. Two daughters.
1978 - Deborah Leigh Solomon, Winston-Salem – 1st runner up at AJM; BA in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill; Teaching Assistant at Isaac Dickson Elementary Experiential Magnet School; VP of Fund Raising & Tournament Judge for the Asheville High School/SILSA Speech & Debate Team; lives in Asheville NC. One daughter.
1979 - LaGena Lookabill Greene, Charlotte - 2nd Runner Up at AJM; graduated w/honors from UNC-CH; BA in Psychology/Dramatic Art; worked as actress in TV/Film, professional singer/dancer, model; traveled as a Christian Speaker. Lives in Charlotte with her husband.
1980 - Diane Barfield Houston, Kinston - Troy State University graduate w/a BS in Broadcast Journalism & Sociology. Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from SCSU. Lives in Centenary, SC with her husband and is a school & private speech pathologist. 1981 - Kim Smith Yandow, Raleigh - America’s Junior Miss and winner of overall awards for Poise and C&PA, studied dance in New York City; extensive career as a dancer and choreographer; author of SimpleSpaces. She resides in Orem, Utah, with her husband. They have 10 children.
1982 - Mary Frankfort Head, Kinston - UNC Chapel Hill graduate; lives in Asheville with her husband; has five sons and a daughter.
1983 - Beth Gray Canterberry, Cary - Graduated from NC State w/a degree in Chemical Engineering; rec’d Master’s in Engineering Mgt from the Univ. of Louisville; currently resides in Stockton, NJ w/her husband. Three sons. Women’s Director at her church.
1984 - Kimberly Pixton Millar, Jacksonville - Attended NC State where she was a member of the National Champion cheerleading squad. She is a designer and owner of Pixton Couture Bridal. Lives in Charlotte.
1985 - Susan Wade Spengler, Kinston - Received overall Talent at AJM; graduated from Wake Forest University w/degree in Business; Obtained MBA from East Carolina Univ. Start-up Specialist with Mathnasium, lives in New Bern with her husband. Has three daughters and is a new grandmother.
1986 - Renee Daniels Collins, Fayetteville - Preliminary Talent winner at AJM, Sum-ma Cum Laude graduate of Methodist College with a BS in Math, holds an MSA from Fayetteville State Univ; a doctorate from Western Carolina; Rutherford County Schools Asst Superintendent; lives in Nebo, NC w/husband. Has a son and daughter.
1987 - Amy Young, Asheville – Degrees in English & Theater Studies from Yale University; earned certificate in Drama from Oxford College in England; lives in New York City & is an actress under the name Bellamy Young. Best known for her role as President Mellie Grant on ABC TV series Scandal.
1988 - Julie Padgett Lindsay, Rutherfordton - NC Teaching Fellow graduate of UNC Greensboro; currently back in Greensboro after living in Australia with her husband who had a Rotary Fellowship with the University of Queensland. Has two grown sons.
1989 - Heather Whitaker Goldstein, Asheville - Graduate of Duke University & George Washington Law School; received preliminary awards in Scholastics & Interview at AJM; lives in Asheville w/her husband and four sons. She is an attorney.
1990 - Tanya Jap Dupont, Rocky Mount – Received a B.M.Ed. from UNC Chapel Hill; MBA from Boston University; past dir. of the Dana Hall School of Music in Wellesley, MA. Lives in Wellesley w/her husband & is a stay at home mom to two sons & daughter.
1991 - Betsey Jones Mooney, Greensboro – Graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill; rec’d JD degree from UVA School of Law. Practices education and employment law in St. Louis, MO, where she resides w/her husband, son and daughter.
1992 - Rainbow Chen, Wilmington - Received Scholastic Achievement award at AJM. Graduate of Stanford with a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior & BA in Human Biology. Lives in the Hawaii, where she is a career & relationships coach.
1993 – Sandy Duncan York, Mooresville – Graduated from Duke Univ. w/degree in Biology; Master’s degree in Sports Admin. from UNC Chapel Hill. Currently Chief Adv. Officer at the Emily K Center. Resides in Durham w/her husband, son & daughter.
1994 - Cooper Parham Bratton, Kinston - A finalist at AJM; graduate of UNC Chapel Hill in Broadcast Journalism; lives in Raleigh w/her husband & two sons. Works as the Parish Life Director for Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh.
1995 - Sharon Beaman Dees, Rocky Mount - UNC Chapel Hill graduate w/a degree in Communications; National Account Manager for KINEXO, lives in Rocky Mount, NC w/her husband Frank, son and daughter.
1996 - Kristin Nicole Davis, Roxboro – Rec’d BA in English from Meredith College; earned her Master’s from Liberty Univ-M.Ed. in Reading & Ed.S. in Educational Leader-ship, & ECU - M.A. in English. Rec’d her doctorate in Education from Univ of SC. Lives in Roxboro, teaches at Roxboro Community School.
1997 - Casey Noblett Callahan, Winston-Salem - 2nd Runner Up at AJM; graduated from New World School of the Arts in Miami; dancer, choreographer, owner/director of N -House Productions; 2013 Creative Director & Choreographer at DYW nationals; Direc-tor of Commercial Dance Intensive. Lives in Cary, NC w/her husband & two daughters.
1998 – Mary Fletcher Peña, High Point – 2nd Runner Up at AJM; graduated UNC Chapel Hill; received MBA in International Business in the Netherlands. Graduated with high honors from UNC School of Law. She is an attorney, lives in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters.
1999 - Lauren Teel Scott Rawls, Tarboro – 1st Runner Up at AJM; graduated from NC State w/BS degrees in Bio-chemistry, Biological Sciences w/a Minor in Genetics. Gradu-ated w/high honors from the Sherman College of Straight Chiropractics. Owner of Verve Chiropractic and Wellness. Lives in Raleigh w/her husband and son.
2000 - Kennedy Lawson, Kinston – graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Creative Writing. Died in 2022.
2001 - Candace Wooten, LaGrange – A finalist at AJM; won overall Fitness & Poise w/a preliminary in Talent; received BS in Exercise Physiology from E. Carolina; rec’d MS from the Univ. of Detroit Mercy. Resides in Atlanta w/her husband. Physician Asst at Capstone Medical Group, PT Adjunct Professor/Clinical Course Dir with Physician Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, At-Large Coordinator for Greater Atlanta - DYW Program.
2002 - Alisha Hagerling-Ear, Asheville – Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio State University with a BFA in Dance. Managed a professional children’s choir & danced w/several small companies in Boston. Lives in Asheville w/her husband, three daughters and son, where she choreographs, teaches dance, runs an Airbnb and is in school pursuing a career in healthcare.
2003 – Melissa Manning Pfaff, Mooresville – Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oklahoma City University with a BFA in Dance Performance; danced professionally for Tokyo Disney and musicals in the US. Lives in Charlotte with her husband and sons Kip and Miles.
2004 – Lauren Elizabeth Melton, Kinston – Top 10 Finalist at AJM; Degrees from East Carolina University in Nursing and Exercise Physiology; completed grad school at UNCW. Nurse Practitioner lives in Charleston, SC.
2005 - Hope Lu, Greenville – 1st runner up at America’s Junior Miss; won Talent, Interview and Scholastics; graduated from Duke University w/degrees in Political Science & Markets & Management w/a Biology minor. Graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Ohio. Works as an attorney for the NYC Law Dept. Lives in Jersey City with her husband and two children.
2006 - Molly Bales, Rocky Mount – Top eight finalist at AJM, won prelims in Scholastics & SE. Harvard Univ. grad. Lives in Austin, TX. Rec’d MBA from MIT Sloan School of Mgt w/focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Sustainability. Senior Business Development Manager with Form Energy.
2007 - Jane Chaffee Makhoul, Pitt County – Won prelims in Fitness, Scholastics, Talent & SE at state program & Fitness at AJM. Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill w/degree in Politi-cal Science. Rec’d MBA and MS in Public Health from UNC. Works as a Sr. Consultant w/Deloitte. Lives in Tampa, FL with her husband and two daughters.
2008 - Helen Ching Yap, Cary/Apex - 1st runner-up at AJM, Talent prelim. Won prelims in Fitness, Interview, Talent & Scholastics at state program; Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill w/Information Science degree & minor in Business. Vice President at Credit Suisse. Lives in Apex w/her husband & two daughters.
2009 - Charlotte (Charli) Mills Shelton, Forsyth County - Won NCJM prelims in SE, Talent & Interview. Graduated from Southeastern Seminary, w/BA in Music & Masters in Church Music. Director of Music at Mt. Tabor UMC in Winston-Salem and is a freelance classical musician. Lives in Lewisville, NC.
2010 - Hannah McMillan, Rocky Mount - Won NCJM prelims in Fitness, SE, Interview & Scholastics. Graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UNC Chapel Hill, rec’d BA in History & Educa-tion as a NC Teaching Fellow. Rec’d Master of Arts in Teaching from UNC. Taught high school social studies in Durham, currently working as a curriculum designer for an educa-tional technology program in Wake County. She was married in October.
2011 - Rachael Delaney Lovick, Kinston - 1st DYW of NC; won state prelims in SE, Fit-ness & Interview. Graduated magna cum laude from UNCW, inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for nurses. Lives in Greenville, NC w/her husband & three daughters.
2012 - Christina Renee Maxwell, Asheville - Distinguished Young Woman of America. Won prelims in Talent, SE; rec’d Be Your Best Self Award. Prelims in Scholastics, Interview, Talent & SE at DYWNC. Graduate of Univ of Michigan. Degree in Musical Theatre. Actress & singer in NYC. Director at Related Companies and High Line Nine Galleries in NYC.
2013 - Amie Sessoms, Rutherfordton - Won DYWNC prelims in all five categories - Talent, Scholastics, Fitness, Interview & SE. Won Be Your Best Self Award at nationals. Recipient of Robert McNair Univ of South Carolina Scholarship. Graduated from USC, majored in Exercise Science, minor in English. Lives in Charleston, SC, teaches English at James Island Charter HS Communications.
2014 - Taylor Hnatek, Raleigh - Received DYWNC prelims in SE & Overall Scholastics, won Talent at nationals. Graduated from Elon University w/degree in Dance Performance & Choreography and a second degree in Dance Science. Currently lives in Florida and is a Character Performer at Walt Disney World.
2015 - Kadee Beasley, Asheville - 1st runner-up at DYW & rec’d Fitness prelim. Won DYWNC prelims in all five categories - Talent, Scholastics, Fitness, Interview & SE. Gradu-ated from NC State University w/Finance degree. Financial Analyst at Cisco Systems. Lives in Denver, Colorado.
2016 - Martha Bennett, Pitt County - Won Talent Prelim at DYW, prelims in SE, Talent & Interview at DYWNC; Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Relations, Served as the president and spokesperson of the Hussman School Ambassadors. Public Relations Account Manager with Fabric Media in New York City.
2017 - Darian Buck, Wake County - Won prelims at DYWNC in Fitness, Talent and Scho-lastics. Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill Honors College with degrees in Philosophy and Women’s and Gender Studies, minor in Social & Econ Justice. Pursuing Masters in Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill. Employed as Program Administrator at Standup-SpeakOut of North Carolina.
2018 - Kennedy Miller, Rocky Mount - Won Talent Prelim at DYW; prelims in SE, Inter-view & Overall Scholastics at DYWNC; Graduated from Honors College at UNC Chapel Hill w/ double majors in Voice Performance and English. Recipient of the Marshall Scholarship and currently pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Studies in London.
2019 - Gracie Stanek, Asheville - Top 8 Finalist at DYW; prelims in Fitness, Talent and Overall Scholastics at DYWNC; Graduated from Wake Forest University with a BS in Mathematical Business. Employed with Red Ventures as a product operations analyst and lives in Charlotte.
2020 - Faith Mae Kiser, Tarboro - Received prelims in SE, Scholastics, Overall Talent at DYWNC and at DYW won Talent prelim. A senior at Hood College in the Honors Program. Majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Analytics and Logistics, minor in Data Science. President of Alpha Lambda Delta, Peer Mentor, Hood College Chamber Singers and is on the Hood swim team.
2021 - Emma Neal, Rutherforton - Received prelims in SE and Overall prelims in Fitness, Talent and Interview at DYWNC; at DYW in Mobile, received preliminary in Fitness and named 1st Finalist. Junior at UNC Chapel Hill, double major in psychology & business administration, minor in conflict mgt. Plans to go into corporate finance. She is an investment intern at Delegate Advisors, a member of the student council for the Office of Scholar-ships and Student Aid and a Young Life Leader at Orange High School.
2022 - Asa Thurnau, Pitt County - Received prelims in Talent, Scholastics, Overall Inter-view and Self-Expression at DYWNC. Junior at NC State University, Business Administration major w/concentration in Human Resources and minor in Dance.
2023 - Madison Parkerson, Tarboro - Received prelims in Fitness and Overall prelim in Talent at DYWNC; Freshman at East Carolina University majoring in Elementary Education. She is in the Education Living Learning Community and the Education Community of Scholars.
