Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior, is an increasing concern in Alabama, with symptoms eventually becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 104,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Alabama and 14.3% of people aged 45 and older experience subjective cognitive decline. 

The burden of the disease is also felt by 217,000 family caregivers in the state, who provide 387 million hours of unpaid care valued at $5.3 billion, while the cost to the state Medicaid program is $1.1 billion.

For Greenville native Melisa Mote, the statistics became a reality in 2017 when her mother Frances was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Mote and her sister became full time caregivers.

“I remember one night in August, I put my mother to bed and she was her normal self,” Mote recalled. “The next morning when I walked into her room, she smiled the biggest smile and asked me what my name was.”

Despite the challenges, Mote reflects positively on her experience.

“It wasn’t easy but I’m so glad that we did it,” Mote said. After her mother’s passing, Mote joined the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. I started a team and we walked that first year… now I’m co-chair of the River Region walk.” 

Mote is also involved in Alzheimer’s advocacy, having traveled to Washington for the past three years to promote awareness. 

“My mother passed in 2017 and we were her full-time caregivers,” Mote said. “We didn’t know anything. We didn’t even get a diagnosis until she was sent home on hospice.”

A new bill in progress aims to assist people in rural areas by educating doctors on the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

“It gets doctors more familiar with what to look for so that they can spot these symptoms earlier,” Mote explained. “New drugs are showing promise if you catch them early, so we really need to spread awareness. And they can do the training online so I’m very excited about that.”

In honor of her mother, Mote started Frances’ Fighters to raise funds for Alzheimer’s awareness and research. 

“We did a cookbook a few years ago that was really successful and this year we’re doing a calendar,” Mote said. “Everything we earn will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.”

In a recent proclamation, Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon designated June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in Greenville. “In this day and time we’re seeing the effects of this disease more and more. It seems to impact just about every family in some way,” McLendon said. “I know it affected mine with my mother and I’m glad to have the opportunity to stress the importance of Alzheimer’s awareness.”

Abbie Stockard is the new Miss Alabama.

Stockard, 21, was crowned Saturday night at Samford University’s Wright Center in Birmingham. She competed as Miss Hoover, besting 39 other contestants for the 2024 state title. Stockard will move on to represent Alabama at the Miss America competition.

Stockard takes over the role of Miss Alabama from Brianna Burrell, Miss Alabama 2023. Burrell crowned her successor at the Wright Center on Saturday and Stockard was presented with a bouquet of roses.

Stockard, from Birmingham, is a student at Auburn University, where she majors in nursing. According to her Miss Alabama bio, she plans to gain critical care experience and apply to nurse anesthesia school after graduation. Her goal is to earn an advanced degree, a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, and specialize in pediatrics.

Stockard also is a member of the Auburn University Tiger Paws dance team.

The yearlong reign of the new Miss Alabama starts immediately. She’ll make public appearances, do charity work, speak to community groups, motivate students and more. Stockard’s community service initiative is Be the Change: Find a Cure — Cystic Fibrosis Awareness.

Stockard was one of 13 semifinalists chosen at the pageant finals on Saturday, competing in segments that focused on talent, on-stage interview, evening gown and heath and fitness. For talent, she performed a contemporary dance to Lauren Daigle’s “You Say.”

Three rounds of preliminary contests for Miss Alabama 2024 took place Wednesday through Friday at the Wright Center, giving all 40 contestants a chance to strut their stuff in talent, evening gown, health and fitness and on-stage interview segments. The contestants also chatted with the judges this week during off-stage interviews and showcased their community service initiatives.

Stockard won two preliminary awards this week, earning the top score in the evening gown competition on Wednesday and the talent competition on Friday.

Scores received in the preliminaries were used to create a composite score that was considered by the judges on Saturday, and weighted as 30 percent of each contestant’s score in the finals. This was added to Saturday scores in talent, evening gown and health and fitness (each weighted as 20 percent) and on-stage question (10 percent).

Miss Alabama, like the Miss America organization, no longer has a swimsuit competition. It was eliminated at Miss America in 2018, and Miss Alabama followed suit in 2019. However, a health and fitness segment was added this year, and contestants modeled activewear designed for the Miss America organization.

Also, this year’s People’s Choice Contest that allowed the pubic to vote online for their favorite contestants in advance of the Miss Alabama finals. Each vote cost $1. The contestant with the most votes earned a spot among the top 13 semifinalists on Saturday. Voting ran through Friday evening, according to the Miss Alabama Organization.

The top 13 semifinalists this year were:

• Dominique Verville, Miss Cahaba Valley
• Imani Muse, Miss Birmingham
• Chloe Yates, Miss Phenix City
• Maddi Heath, Miss Jubilee
• Lauren Vance, Miss Covered Bridge
• Mikella Anderson, Miss Appalachian Valley
• Ibby Dickson, Miss Historic Springville
• Emma Terry, Miss Jefferson County
• Mary-Coker Green, Miss Auburn University
• Marissa Luna, Miss University of Alabama
• Abbie Stockard, Miss Hoover
• Emma Wright, Miss Tennessee Valley
• Hannah Adams, Miss Mobile Bay

Later on Saturday, the list of finalists was trimmed to the top five. They were:

• Abbie Stockard, Miss Hoover
• Emma Terry, Miss Jefferson County (first runner-up)
• Marissa Luna, Miss University of Alabama
• Maddi Heath, Miss Jubilee
• Hannah Adams, Miss Mobile Bay

Although glitzy on-stage activity is the most public aspect of the Miss Alabama pageant, there’s significant scholarship money at stake behind the scenes. Cash scholarships in various categories are awarded to contestants during competition week, totaling $126,500 this year, according to the Miss Alabama pageant guide.

The title of Miss Alabama comes with a $15,000 scholarship. The first runner-up receives $5,000; the second runner-up receives $3,000; the third runner-up gets $2,500; the fourth-runner up receives $2,000, all in scholarship money.

Other semi-finalists receive $1,500 each in scholarship money. The remaining contestants receive $1,250 each for competing in the pageant. More than 40 other cash scholarships, in sums of $100-$5,000, are awarded by the pageant’s scholarship committee and various donors.

This week’s preliminary talent winners will receive $500 each in scholarship money, according to the pageant guide. Winners in the evening gown preliminaries will receive $300 each in scholarship money.

Several colleges and universities in the state also offer in-kind scholarships to the winner and other contestants, paying tuition, fees and other expenses.

Judges for this year were Amanda Joseph May. Amanda Tapley McGriff, Sharron Melton, Jay Pitts and Rick Pruitt.

Tammy Little Haynes, Miss Alabama 1984, was the emcee for Saturday’s program. The agenda included production numbers by Miss Alabama 2023 and this year’s contestants, performing to songs such as “How Will I Know,” “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “Stronger.” Miss Alabama’s Teen 2024, Ali Mims, performed at the finals, as well. Tiara Pennington, Miss Alabama 2019-2020, sang the national anthem.