1954-1972

Mississippi's Mrs. America

. ~

Is Former New, York Model

· Doris McDonald Modjeski ot Jackson was named recently a~ Mississippi's new Mrs Mississippi. She was crowned at the pageant held at · the Meridian Little Theatre. where she competed with contestant~ from across the state. Alternate winne rs were : Ginger Mobley of Elliott'. first : Rosemary Metcalfe of Itta .Bena. second; Maxie Robinson of Greenville. third; and Darnell Adams of Bailey. fourth . Others who took finalist ho~ors were Becky Rodgers of French Camp. Carol Waldron of Meridian. Barbara Staples ·of Morton . Judy Hartley of Columbus. Pat Gray of Meridian. and Linda Hosey of Meridian. Mrs. Mississippi. a 38-year ol.d brunette. in private life is Mrs'.' Bill Modjeski. She is the stepmother of twin boys. Daryl and·Paul (age nine) . who attend the Mississippi School for the Blind in Jackson. She is the daughter of Jack Earley and the late Essie Mae Earley of Clar~son. (Webster County) . Mrs . Modjeski attended "Cumberland High School where she e:raduated in 1959 as class valedictorian. She also attended Wood Junior College and East Central Junior College. and in 1963 she received a BS degree in speech education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Following college graduation. she worked as a speech teacher in the McComb Public School - -- - System. after which she serv~ . for three years as an ·airline stewardess . for Eastern Airlines. Th~n came a career as a professional model and instructor of modeling in New York City. She also taught self-improvement for the John Robert Powers School and for · E. F. Hutton Co.

- In 1971 she returned to her native Mississippi. where she taught speech in the Maben Public Schools. Since 1972. she has lived and worked in . Jackson. where she has been a modeling school director. a teacher. and a bridal consultant. She is presently self-employed as a personal improvement instructor and pag·eant coach . She also lectures and conducts workshops and seminars on a free lance basis. Mrs. Modjeski attributes her success to " Faith in God. and active prayer life : and a . supportive husband. Before the pageant. I asked God to give me the strength to do my very best." ·

~A GEANT WI~RS - Doris Modjeski of Jackson took the · title of ~· ~~erica during the Mississippi pageant held r.ecently m Mend1an. F)'om left are: Ginger Mobley, G.renada. first alte~ate: Rosen:iary Metcalf, I~ta Bena, second alternate: Mrs. Modjeski; Maxie Robinson, Green\jlle, third alternate: and Darnell Adams, Meridian, fourth alternate. · The Mrs. Mississippi pageant is the official preliminary to the national Mrs. America Pageant which will beheld in Las Vegas. Nev. The Mrs . America pageant is the only national contest exclusively devoted to, our country's 51 million Wives. and it seeks .to reflect the views . aspirations and versatility of today's contemporary American wife. (It is comparable to the Miss --------------------'-----~-__.!

America Pageant. except it is for married women only.) Contestants compete in evening gown. swim suit. and interview. The winner will receive a host ,. of prizes. including a personal appearance ·contract. television appearances. and a year of travel. ·