Junior Auxiliary of Columbus is pleased to announce the 2025 Charity Ball King and Queen: Dr. Floyd Norman Ford and Hanna Cathryn Hardy.
Queen Hanna Cathryn Hardy, a native of Columbus, is the daughter of Mary Ann Hardy and the late Allen Boyd Hardy. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey Hardy, Sr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Francis Joseph McGuigan, Jr.
A 2021 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Heritage Academy, Hanna was valedictorian, STAR student, and inducted into the Hall of Fame. She was a member of the MAIS Honor Society, the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, French Honor Society, Latin Junior Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society where she served as president. Classmates voted Hanna “Most Likely to Succeed,” “Most Artistic,” and “Most Intellectual.” A dedicated Heritage soccer player for six years, she was a recipient of the Patriot Award and All-MAIS Division II honors. Beyond athletics, Hanna participated in the Lowndes Young Leaders Program and played violin for Suzuki Strings Orchestra for 13 years, earning 10 superior ratings in the Mississippi Federated Music Festival.
A member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hanna was a member of the EYC, attended a mission trip to New Orleans and volunteered with Bible School. She served as president and vice president of Junior Daughters of the King.
Currently a senior at Mississippi State University, Hanna maintains a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering. She has been on the President’s List every semester and is a member of Shackouls Honors College, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society where she currently serves as vice president. As part of the UMEEDD program at University of Mississippi Medical Center, she contributed to biomedical research and healthcare innovation last summer. A member of Delta Gamma Fraternity, she has served on the Honor Board and participated in philanthropy benefitting Service for Sight.
One of Hanna’s most meaningful experiences is with Camp Kesem, supporting children who are at risk of experiencing anxiety or emotional isolation due to a parent being diagnosed with cancer. After serving as a counselor last summer, she now serves on the Board for the MS State Kesem organization.
She is also passionate about empowering children, having worked as a counselor for Bulldog Bytes camps, teaching young girls coding skills, internet safety, and encouraging them to explore careers in technology. Hanna co-led an effort to secure grant money for a Robofit coding camp and earned the NCWIT Affiliate Award for aspirations in Computing in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, she volunteered with Columbus TOPSoccer, helping children with disabilities, and was named 2020 TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year.
She was a member of the 2021 Charity Ball Court and was presented at the Southern Debutante Assembly in Greenwood. Hanna is honored to represent Junior Auxiliary as the 2025 Charity Ball Queen.
King Floyd Norman Ford is a 1982 graduate of Heritage Academy, where he was elected Mr. Heritage, SGA president, and Hall of Fame. He was a two-time All-Conference basketball player and All-State in the 800-meter run.
Ford received a bachelor’s of science in biology from Mississippi State University. While at MSU, he served Sigma Chi Fraternity as president for two years and was named MSU Outstanding Greek, Blue Key Senior Man of the Year, Delta Gamma Anchor Man, and was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame, Who’s Who, and Order of Omega.
A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1991, Ford received his D.M.D. and the prestigious Dean’s Medal, the Alumni Award for Leadership, and the ADA Student Leadership Award. He was elected the Student Government president and was an Alumni Scholar.
Ford completed his Endodontic Residency in 1993 and returned to Columbus to begin his endodontic practice. He is a member of the American Association of Endodontists, the American Dental Association, Southern Endodontic Study Group, and the Mississippi Dental Association, for which he has served as Trustee and 1st District president.
Dedicated to youth and education, Ford was president of both the Heritage Academy Sports Boosters and Board of Directors, for which he served two terms. A lifelong member of First Methodist Church, Ford taught children and youth Sunday school for more than 20 years. He also served as chairman of the Youth Council and as a confirmation mentor for several children. He has chaperoned youth trips, mentored as a small group leader, and traveled to Haiti on several Medical/Dental mission trips. Many youth and children have benefitted from his coaching their YMCA basketball, girls’ softball, Heritage girls’ basketball (assistant coach), and 7th grade boys’ basketball teams.
Ford enjoys serving on North Mississippi Chrysalis, Crossroads, and Emmaus teams and has served as a Chrysalis Lay Director. He is serving his second term on the Chrysalis Crossroads Board of Directors and is chairman of the MSU FCA board.
As a devoted member of First Methodist, Ford has served as chairman of the Staff Parish Relations, Spiritual Formation, and Stewardship committees. He has also served on the Administrative Board, Church Council, usher team, and is the current chairman of the Finance Committee.
A dedicated member of our community, Ford has been a member of the YMCA Board of Directors since 1997 and served as president. Currently, he is a YMCA Trustee. He was president of the Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. In addition, he served as president of both the MSU Lowndes County Alumni Association and the Columbus Country Club.
Ford’s parents are Nancy Brown Ford, a Life Member and former ball chairman of JA of Columbus, and the late Robert E. Ford, Sr. He is the grandson of former King Floyd W. Brown, Sr. and Hawley Knox Brown, a JA charter member and past president. He is married to Celia Cook Ford, also a Life Member and past president. He and Celia are the proud parents of two daughters, Mary Dade Ford and former Charity Ball Queen Madison (Ty) Harwell.
Page to the Queen is William “Liam” Kennon Curtis. Liam is the son of Dr. and Mrs. David Kennon Curtis Jr, and the grandson of former King, Dr. David Kennon Curtis Sr. and Mrs. Pat Curtis.
Page to the King is Hollis Stephenson Hazard. Hollis the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Stephenson Hazard III, and the grandson of former king, George Stephenson Hazard Jr. and Marion Hazard.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
