By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Shelby Ridge and Rehab Select resident Patricia Bradberry gasped in amazement and fought back tears as Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon read the final name on her list.

“And this year’s Miss Shelby Ridge is Patricia Bradberry!” Handlon announced as applause and cheers echoed through Shelby Ridge’s cafeteria on May 16.

“I just want to thank everybody,” Bradberry said, unable to keep herself from smiling. “I thank God for leading me on the path he did, and for putting me at Shelby Ridge.”

Bradberry’s crowing marked the end of the 2013 Miss Shelby Ridge pageant, which is held each year as a precursor to the annual Miss Alabama Nursing Home pageant held at Hoover’s Wynfrey Hotel.

As a result of winning the Miss Shelby Ridge pageant, Bradberry will now compete against pageant winners from nursing homes across the state during the state pageant this summer.

“Miss Bradberry, I know you will represent us well at the state pageant,” said Shelby Ridge owner Chris Schmidt.

During the question-and-answer portion of the pageant, Bradberry was asked, “If you were to write a book, what would it be about?”

“I would write about myself and talk about all that has happened in my life to make me into the person I am today,” said Bradberry, who has been a Shelby Ridge resident for seven years.

The Miss Shelby Ridge pageant featured Bradberry and fellow Shelby Ridge residents Sarah Martin, Sue Jackson, Ruth Sewell, Bessie Smitherman and Agnes Chambers.

Handlon emceed the event as Niki Raia provided a piano soundtrack to match the pageant’s theme: “A stroll in Paris.”

Smitherman was named Miss Personality, Chambers was named Best Dressed, Martin won the Best Smile award, Sewell was named second runner-up and Jackson was named first runner-up.

Pageant escorts were Wesley Thomas, Don Johnson, Ryan Moore, James Garrison, Kevoris Pratt and Brandon Vincent.