New Beginnings and Lots of Grattitude

I am so honored, humbled and elated to have been crowned the first Miss Tennessee Volunteer! I have to say a LOT of thank yous to so many wonderful people for helping to make this possible!
 
First of all, I want to say a tremendous thank you to everyone for joining us at the coronation and for sending so much love on such a special day! I feel so loved and welcomed, and I am beyond honored to be the very first Miss Tennessee Volunteer!
 
The past few months have been filled with joy as I’ve traveled as the Governor’s Official Spokesperson for Character Education across Tennessee. The children I have spoken to in the schools and the precious patients in our CMN hospitals, have forever changed my life for the better. 

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Some of you may not know this, but I have spent the last six years of my life, from ages 17 to 23, in pursuit of this dream. That’s basically my entire adult life so far! I competed here in Jackson every third week of June for four years in a row until I was fortunate enough to win the Miss Tennessee America crown. I worked year round annually raising moneyfor Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and for my personal cause, the Alzheimer’s Association, because four of my family members have passed away from the fatal disease with no cure. Those years of effort, hard work and the integrity of our state organization are among the reasons the position meant so much to me.

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​This new opportunity as Miss Tennessee Volunteer,
I think it is nothing short of a miracle, that this new scholarship organization exists!

I have never been so impressed by the resolve of this group of people, who refused to be told they could no longer carry on with their life‘s work and passion to empower the young women of this state.
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To date, Tennessee is the only state in the nation that stood up, stood strong, and said we will continue and we will continue with the integrity and the kindness that people deserve.
I hope the eyes of the country are on us this year, and that other states seek the same opportunity!
 
We have heard a lot about the many ways that Mayor Gist, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, the local businesses, and the citizens of Jackson have supported this endeavor for decades.
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In this very moment, that very dedication has never been more evident. I’d like to take a moment to personally thank Mayor Gist and the people of Jackson for continuing to believe in me and for always believing that educating women makes ALL of us stronger.

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I’d also like to thank Mr. Tom Hensley, Mr. Jimmy Exum, Ms. Jane Alderson, Mrs. Allison DeMarcus, Mrs. Amy Otto and the dozens of other volunteers who have stretched themselves beyond reason these last few weeks to build this program from scratch. 
I will never be able to express how grateful I am for the countless hours you have dedicated to helping me be my best self this year and to prepare me for each and every moment of this journey—thank you for always believing in me and giving so much of your own time and effort because you support and believe in what this program does for young women like myself…I truly wouldn’t be the woman I am today without you all! I am so grateful to have leaders with such integrity forging this new path.
This executive leadership has always preached to the contestants about the importance of loyalty and love and commitment and family. Well Mr. Hensley and Mr. Exum, I was listening!
 
You see, those values are the exact ones my family believes in, and my parents have raised my sister, Christal, and me to believe in their importance! So I want to take a moment and thank my mom and dad and Christal for their unconditional support over the last six years, but especially over the last few months when I needed them the most. I love you guys and I hope that my decisions this year have reflected everything that you have taught me, and that I have made you proud. I love you from the bottom of my heart!
 
So I’ve warned everyone that after June, they will have a very hard time getting rid of me?! Someday, this unbelievably fabulous crown I’ve just received may lose some of its sparkle. It may tarnish and my banner may yellow, but my friendships and respect for the people here today will always remain true.

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I hope you will join me in a couple of short weeks back in Jackson— June 19 through the 22nd—as I cherish the opportunity to crown my successor the next Miss Tennessee Volunteer 2019. Between now and that time, I promise to continue working hard to build this program and to represent you in the way that you deserve.
 
 Thank you all so much for being a part of this journey!    
 
All my love,
 
Christine Electra Williamson
Miss Tennessee Volunteer    ​

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