"Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't."

Inspired by this quote from American writer Richard Bach, 81-year-old Dr. Frances Skinner Reeves, a 1971 College of Education graduate, set out to determine her next step in life after her husband died in November 2006.  That mission brought her to the runway of the Ms. Southwest Georgia Senior pageant in June—vying for the eventual crown of Ms. Georgia Senior.

Recently widowed and for the first time, unattached and without obligation to look after anyone else, she prayerfully told the Lord she was up for anything He had in mind for her.

"I asked the Lord to give me a year to get my emotions in order and then I would be ready to do anything," she said.  However, even the retired mental health counselor was surprised by what came next.  "I never thought this would be it."

"This," referred to by Reeves, is the Ms. Southwest Georgia Senior Pageant.  She was approached and encouraged by her friends in the West Point (Ga.) Woman's Club to participate in the upcoming pageant.  Reeves, who had never participated in a pageant before, said, at the time, competing in such an event was "the furthest thing from (her) mind."

She received the "sign" she was praying for several days later while watching the Lawrence Welk program one Saturday evening.  The song "Hey there, Georgy Girl" came on.  "That's when I knew," Reeves said.  That's not to say Reeves was not anxious about the endeavor though.

"I was nervous that I would not be able to physically keep up with the pace," she said.  "I was also nervous that my mind would go blank and I would not be able to think of anything to say in response to my onstage question." 

Once again Reeves turned to prayer and was reassured.  "The Lord orchestrated everything," she said, noting how devotions she read offered Bible passages and reassurance that the strength and words she needed would be there.

And indeed they were.  On June 21, Reeves was crowned Ms. Southwest Georgia Senior after a contest featuring five contestants who competed in five categories: individual interview, talent, evening gown, statement of principle and onstage question.  Through her participation, which she called "very exhilarating," Reeves hopes to show others that age is just a number.

"It doesn't matter your age," she said.  "You can still be active, fun and of use."

Her positive attitude was evident throughout the entire competition.  When faced with the onstage question, "Some people believe seniors have nothing to offer to the world.  How would you change their minds?" Reeves responded by saying: "This is the best time of our life.  We are free of responsibilities.  We have raised our children and made our living.  Our job now is to share joy with others." 

For the talent portion of the competition, Reeves performed a slow jazz dance to the tune that inspired her participation in the first place: "Hey There, Georgy Girl."  She said she was motivated by the Charlie Chaplin quote, "Failure is unimportant.  It takes courage to make a fool of yourself."

"I showed a lot of courage by performing this dance," she said.

The West Point, Ga. resident also won the "Spirit of the Pageant" award.  She sold the most tickets to the pageant and the most advertisements in the event's program.

Reeves applies that same spirit in her support of the College of Education—of which she is a three-time graduate.  She is a long-time member of the college's National Advisory Council and remains a member of the college's Patrons of the Keystone-Dean's Circle —an effort she began supporting with her late husband Charles, a 1949 AU alumnus.

Next up for Reeves?  She, along with 13 other contestants, will participate in the Ms. Georgia Senior pageant August 9 and 10 in Roswell, Ga.  And you can be sure that Reeves will take her always upbeat attitude with her to Roswell.

"I'm in it for the fun," she said.  "If the Lord thinks I can handle only southwest Georgia and that's all I have strength for, that's fine.  I just want to show others that seniors can be active and fun."