Neely-Dorsey: 4th of July Has Fireworks, Parades…and Pageants

Patricia Neely-Dorsey has an eye for great finds on a dime. She is a true Yard Sale Diva with a great July 4 story for y’all!

EVERYONE in the Northside Community of Tupelo remembers the Miss Northside Pageant. The pageant was a must-see event for over 20 years in the Northside – Park Hill Community, the predominately African-American section in Tupelo. Elvis Presley spent a great deal of time in this area during his childhood in Tupelo.

As one friend put it, it was the ‘Miss America of the Hood.’ This pageant was held during 4th of July week from the 1960s to the mid/late 1980s.

So! This is me at 16 years old in 1980.

I really am not a pageant girl, having only been in two pageants my whole life. They were 30 years apart! Yes, that dress I wore at Mrs. Mississippi pageant at age 47 is a Diva on a Dime dress I found for $5 at a yard sale in Saltillo!

I have yard sale tips and tricks that I have shared on this website, but stay tuned for more stories this month!

Patricia Neely-Dorsey is the author of two books of poetry, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems and My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems. Through her poems, the author hopes to protect, preserve and promote the rich cultural history and heritage of her state and region along with providing more positive images than all of the negative images usually portrayed. Patricia lives in Tupelo with her husband James, son Henry and Miniature Schnauzer, Happy. The author has been named a Goodwill Ambassador for the state by Governor Phil Bryant. Her slogan is “Always, Always Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi ” Her website is www.patricianeelydorsey.com and her email is magnoliagirl21@yahoo.com.