THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603260172
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATHRYN DARLING, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
IT WASN'T QUITE the year Jennifer Holmes expected to have as Miss Norfolk.
She was prepared for the public appearances in parades and at events like Harborfest.
And she had prepared for the community work she had proposed, a proposal that helped her become Miss Norfolk 1995. Each contestant has a platform, a theme that determines the kind of public service they intend to do in the next year.
Holmes, who won the 1995 Miss Norfolk pageant last May, had chosen the theme ``Motivating youth forward on a crusade for universal success'' as her platform. Her plan was to visit schools as a motivational speaker. She had wanted to talk to elementary children about self-esteem and had wanted to encourage high school students to continue their education.
Holmes and her pagaent-appointed chaperone, Leigh Berry, approached individual schools. But they didn't get a warm welcome. Holmes said most of the schools didn't return her calls.
``I don't know why I didn't get a lot of phone calls back,'' she said. ``Maybe they thought Miss Norfolk was too superficial. Maybe they wanted someone with credentials or more experience.''
Eventually, Holmes and Berry realized they needed the blessing of the School Board. But even after they had official approval, scheduling time for presentations wasn't easy. Schools had their year already set, and the open times often conflicted with Holmes' class schedule at Old Dominion University, where she is a sophomore music major.
Holmes did give a few presentations, but eventually, she said, she realized her platform just wasn't practical, and she told Berry, ``I don't want to carry a name I don't deserve. If I can't do my platform, I'll use my gift one on one.''
Holmes, who is from New Jersey and now lives in Chesapeake with her family, decided not to concentrate on youth but rather the needs of the community. She said she got on the phone and offered her services, and requests came in for performances and speaking engagements. Often she was asked to speak and sing.
She visited a day-care center. She spoke and sang at an Optimist Club meeting and a Lions Club meeting.
She sang for VFW parties and for a drug awareness program at Crestwood Intermediate School in Chesapeake, at swim meets and ODU basketball games, at an Admirals hockey game, at a Norfolk Tides baseball game, at a Christmas party for underprivileged children, for children in the oncology ward at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and at numerous nursing homes.
Last fall, Holmes called Sentara Nursing Center Norfolk to offer to sing at a Christmas concert for the residents. She spoke with Debra Freeman, the senior activity director, and set the date. Freeman asked if Holmes would sing at a fund-raiser the residents were holding to provide school supplies to children in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, which was devastated by a hurricane last year.
Holmes, a graduate of Catholic High School, performed at that fund-raiser and established strong friendships with the staff and residents. Freeman said Holmes had a much different rapport with the residents than most of the entertainers who have visited the nursing home. She said Holmes not only has a beautiful voice and is charismatic but she also is compassionate. Freeman said Holmes didn't merely talk with the people; she also hugged them. She wiped tears. She even let the women residents try on her crown.
``She wasn't just fulfilling her commitment as Miss Norfolk. She was genuine, and that's why she stands out,'' Freeman said.
Freeman said Holmes still comes by for visits. The nursing home planned to send a group of residents to the Miss Norfolk Pageant on March 23 to watch her take her final walk. Freeman said a wonderful bond exists between Holmes and the residents.
``I expect the friendship to continue, so we want to wish her well and be there for her, to cheer her on,'' Freeman said.
Berry, who has been involved in pageants for 27 years, said that Holmes has been the most active Miss Norfolk she can remember.
Holmes said her year was full of ``simple things, really. Things anybody can do. If you have any kind of talent or gift that you can share with people, there are so many people you can touch. It doesn't take much at all. Time. An hour on Saturday.''
Holmes said that she doesn't plan on competing in any more pageants, that she feels she can have an effect on people without her crown.
``My reign is finished, but the most important thing I've learned, is that everything I've done, I can do without being Miss Norfolk,'' she said.
She also doesn't regret that her original platform didn't work.
``I couldn't have wanted a better year,'' she said. MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Kathryn Darling at 446-2286. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
During her time as Miss Norfolk, Jennifer Holmes developed a special
relationship with residents of Sentara Nursing Center.
by CNB