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The story of the first Miss Georgia who won Miss America, 62 years ago

ajc.com

Credit: Contributed by the Miss America Organization

Credit: Contributed by the Miss America Organization

By Adam Carlson
Sept 14, 2015

On Sunday, 21-year-old Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was named Miss America — the first winner from the state in 62 years.

There has been only one other Miss Georgia who went on to be crowned Miss America: Her name was Neva Fickling (then Neva Langley).

Fickling was born on Jan. 25, 1933, in Lakeland, Fla., and was attending Macon's Wesleyan College in 1952 when she won Miss Macon and Miss Georgia to reach the Miss America Pageant in 1953. (According to the Miss America website, Fickling was voted "most popular" each year in high school.)

"Neva Jane Langley will always be remembered for her hard work and the difference she made during her year of service as she traveled around the country," Art McMaster, then-president and CEO of Miss America, told the Ledger in Lakeland, upon her death.

One friend told the paper, "She had a wonderful life, there's no doubt about it."

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Adam Carlson
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