Giovina Loving to compete in Alabama Nursing Home Pageant

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Published Aug. 6, 1999

Giovina Loving will celebrate her 81st birthday Aug. 10 by competing in the Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Pageant at the Winfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

Pike Manor Health Care Center received word late Monday afternoon that Loving had been chosen as one of the ten finalist statewide who will compete in the event.

"I am happy and teary-eye," an obviously jubilant Loving said. "I’m teary-eyed happy. I want to laugh and I want to cry at the same time. This is a wonderful thing to happen to me. I never thought I would be in competition with anyone except myself."

However, that is the position Loving will find herself in Tuesday afternoon. – competing with 69 other contestants from across the state for the right to reign as "queen" of Alabama nursing homes.

Loving was chosen through a rather involved process, said Pam Little, Pike Manor activity director.

Miss in a pagenat held in the spring, Loving was interviewed about all aspects of her life.

"There were eight essay-type questions that Loving had to answer and then we had to submit a four-minute video that would demonstrate her communications skills and her personality," Little said. "She was outstanding on both. We thought she had a good chance of being one of the top ten and we were right."

The decision was expected on Tuesday but around 5 p.m. Monday, Little was contacted with the good news – Giovina Loving was a finalist.

"She did such intelligent and beautiful responses to the questions," Little said. "I know she will represent us well in Birmingham."

Loving said she is packing her bags in preparation for the trip but other than that she doesn’t know anything else she can do to prepare.

"I’ll just be myself," she said with a smile.

Being herself is what got her into the top ten and what should give her a good shot at the title, Little said.

"She has done so much in her lifetime and she is loves people and always puts the happiness of others before her own," Little said. "That comes through in talking with her and I think it will when she is interviewed by the judges and later in the on-stage interview."