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2017 JA Charity Ball King and Queen Revealed
The Junior Auxiliary (JA) of Oxford hosted their fifth annual Charity Ball on Saturday, Jan. 21. During this event, the organization revealed their 2017 Charity Ball King and Queen, David Naron and Kristy Bridgers.
Becoming a member of the JA is an honor itself, successful candidates must be recommended by a current member and then approved by at least three other members. The King and Queen are chosen by the current JA members. The titles are given to individuals based solely on nominations from active and honorary members of the organization.
“We first added a King and Queen to our ball in 2013,” said Joanne Mitchell, JA Finance Chairman. “The King and Queen are nominated by active and provisional Junior Auxiliary of Oxford members. There is not an application process, strictly nominations.”
Shortly before the event, the JA quietly informs the two honorees and then releases clues and hints to the identity of the King and Queen. Many community members try to guess the identities of these two individuals, but the announcement is kept secret until the big reveal and crowing at the Charity Ball.
“The King and Queen know before hand because we have to make sure that they will be able to attend,” Mitchell said. “They usually only tell their close family. We want it to be a surprise to everyone else and we want to recognize them for all they do for the community.”
2017 JA Charity Ball King: David Naron
David Naron was born in Cleveland, Mississippi, and is the son of Memorie and Tommy Naron. He is a graduate of Cleveland High School, where he served as Student Body President and lettered in football, baseball, tennis and swimming. In his glory days, Naron was a competitive swimmer and held a swimming record in the state of Mississippi for the boys’ 1500 meter race. Naron is a proud Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow Society.
While attending the University of Mississippi, Naron served Phi Delta Theta as rush chairman. After Ole Miss, Naron went on to work at Oxford Floral in an attempt to stay in Oxford for “just one more football season.” The love of Ole Miss football continued for Naron, as did his work at Oxford Floral. Naron and his wife Katie eventually purchased Oxford Floral in 2009. Naron’s unique styling and flower arrangements have been featured and shared through various publications across the nation. He is a member of AIFD, SAF, and NORCAL floral societies.
Naron is a member of Oxford University Methodist Church, and he currently serves on the board for Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. An active Ole Miss Quarterback Club board member, Naron has served as vice president of the board. Besides Oxford, Ole Miss Football, and Katie, his other loves include his two Yorkies, Buster and Louise.
Naron has contributed his time and talents to over 100 philanthropic events in the Lafayette, Oxford, and University communities.
2017 JA Charity Ball Queen: Kristy Bridgers
A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Kristy Bridgers is a wife, mother, personal trainer, Orange Theory instructor, fitness media consultant and community advocate.
Bridgers and her family have resided in Oxford for the last 12 years. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and the Chancellor’s Leadership class.
Bridgers’ husband, Davis, is a gastroenterologist with GI Associates of North Mississippi. She and her husband have three children, Ali, Sara Carolin and Winn.
Bridgers is a founder of More Than a Meal and annually raises funders for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through the “Taste of Oxford.”
In addition to her work and other philanthropic activities, Bridgers founded the Pajama Project, an event hosted by the JA of Oxford and she is an active member of Grace Bible Church where she is a teacher, nursery volunteer, and a member of the building search
You can read about the Charity Ball on HottyToddy.com, or learn more about the JA of Oxford by visiting their website.
Amy Goodin is a writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at argoodin12
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