A Sterling Celebration
YesterYear kicks off 25th year with ball
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Princess Shelby Hilburn

The hot days of summer are here and so are the days of celebration for the 25th annual YesterYear celebration. The action gets off to a full swing with the Roy Lawrence Memorial Golf Tournament at Eagle's Bluff Country Club in Bullard on Friday. With 13 teams signed up so far, the day promises to be full of challenge and fun. See page 1B for more details.

The regal pageantry begins with Saturday night's Coronation and Ball. Mr. and Mrs. YesterYear, Clarence and Girthal Miller, will be introduced as well as YesterYear Princess Shelby Hilburn, Ladies in Waiting Meagan Barkley and Lindsey Taylor, along with the children of their royal courts.

Following the presentations in the auditorium of Whitehouse High School, the procession of the courts will lead the audience to the cafeteria where the first waltz will open the dance floor to the guests. Finger foods will be served as everyone is entertained by the Take 2 Band of Tyler. The theme of this year's gala is "Sterling Moments ... A 25th Celebration."

Lady Lindsey Diane Taylor

Princess Shelby Ann Hilburn is a 2005 graduate of Whitehouse High School. She is currently attending the University of Texas at Tyler where she is majoring in marketing. Shelby is daughter of L. Scott and Shawn Hilburn and sister of Sadie Lynn Hilburn. She is granddaughter of George and Lynn Barker of Whitehouse and Bennie and Betty Hilburn of Tyler.

While attending Tyler Junior College, Princess Shelby was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She has a very intense focus on her education. In spring of 2006, she was named to the National Dean's List.

What little free time Princess Shelby has is spent mostly doing community volunteer work. While a member of the College and Career class at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, she took part in a home building blitz project. She and fellow members took on the task of remodeling the homes of the elderly and disabled of the community. Among her other community oriented activities; she is a repeat racer in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Last year Shelby helped to coordinate a Katrina relief baseball camp held at Mike Carter Field by her boyfriend Travis Chick of the Seattle Mariners and other professional baseball players in the East Texas area.

Lady Meagan Joye Barkley

Princess Shelby will be escorted by Josh Dickerson, son of Sandra and David Dickerson of Whitehouse

The royal court for Princess Shelby are maidens Hannah Barker, Claire Cayer, Mallory Cole, Abigail Costlow, Lea Derfus, Olivia Hancock, Kelcie Speake and Breanna Daniels. Her royal pages are Kase Jeter, Parker Jones, Landry Mayo, Zachary Schmidt, Brody Oryl, Trent Kelly, Weldon Clements and Tanner Garza. Train bearers are Riley Williams and Coleman Patterson.

Lady Meagan Joye Barkley, daughter of Bil and Brenda Barkley, is also a 2005 graduate of Whitehouse High School. Meagan is granddaughter of C.A. and Nancy Trent of Hawkins and Bill and Barbara Barkley of Carthage.

Meagan is currently attending East Texas Baptist University where she is a sophomore Mass Communication major. After graduation, she plans to move to Nashville to pursue Public Relations and Promotions in the Christian music industry. Meagan made the Dean's List with Honors every semester at ETBU. She is the Service Coordinator of Delta Pi Theta, a service sorority, an officer in the Political Awareness Society, and a member of Model United Nations. She is also involved with numerous Baptist Student Ministry activities, and was a freshman orientation leader.

Lady Meagan will be escorted by her brother, Drew Barkley

Lady Meagan's maidens include Danielle Thompson, Elizabeth Sheppard, Mackenzie Burlingame, Madelyn Burlingame, Tanae Thompson and Natalie Johnson. Her royal pages are Austin Davis, Bailey Corbett, Justin Coats, Mason Zivney, Ryan McFadden and Trent Miller.

Lady Lindsey Diane Taylor is a 2007 graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in marketing. She is a 2003 WHS grad. Her parents are Kay Taylor and Eddie Taylor. She has one brother, Blake. Lady Lindsey's grandparents are Claude (Pete) and Ginger Hackler, Doris Taylor and the late J.L. Taylor.

Lindsey had an exciting opportunity as she took part in the Disney College Program. During her semester at Disney World she was guided through the program that helps students develop transferable skills, including guest service, problem solving, service recovery, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, attention to detail, time management, personal empowerment, self-confidence, responsibility and cultural sensitivity.

Lady Lindsey will be escorted by Jason Kennedy, son of Steve and Alett Kennedy of Tyler.

Her royal court includes maidens Kaylee Barfield, Elisabeth Eckles, Emilee Eckles, Kenzi Hall, Natalie Henderson and Anna Claire Williams. Her pages are Christian Nipper, Peyton Waters, Zane Kinney, Ashton Melton, Trey Chudej and Drake Cross.

The Coronation and Ball begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 16. Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase at the Tri County Leader and Austin Bank.