Ms. Woodland Village Rehab & Healthcare Center, Cleo McLeroy, 87, left, and Ms. Folsom Center for Rehab & Healthcare, Miriam Kelley, 89.

Two women from Cullman are top 10 finalists for the 2017 Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant. The ladies are Ms. Folsom Center for Rehab & Healthcare, Miriam Kelley, 89, and Ms. Woodland Village Rehab & Healthcare Center, Cleo McLeroy, 87.

The pageant will be held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover at 2 p.m. Monday, July 31. The winner will serve as a spokesperson for nursing home residents and the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA).

Ms. Kelley says living at the Folsom Center has given her life meaning and purpose. She is vice-president of the resident council and follows through on the requests and concerns of her fellow residents. In addition, she assisted with the center’s yard sale and planned a birthday party for one of the staff members. Ms. Kelley has four children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She and her husband, Talmadge, we married for 42 years.

Ms. McLeroy is a resident activity volunteer at Woodland Village and helps with activity preparations and invites other residents to attend. She also serves on the resident council and is a member of the Go Getters Group, the center’s welcoming committee. Ms. McLeroy worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at Cullman High School. She was married to Buddy “B.F.” McLeroy for more than 60 years and has one child.

“These contestants prove you can make a difference regardless of your age or ability,” ANHA President & CEO Bill O’Connor said. “Each lady is a wonderful ambassador of her rehabilitation and long-term care center. I invite everyone to attend the pageant as we celebrate the contributions these ladies make in their nursing home and the community.”

The finalists were selected from a field of 49 contestants during preliminary judging in Montgomery. The contestants are evaluated on their outlook on life, personality, poise and involvement in their individual nursing homes.

The top 10 finalists will have individual interviews with the panel of celebrity judges on the morning of July 31 before competing on stage that afternoon. All the other contestants in attendance will be part of the Honor Court and will be individually recognized during the pageant. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.