SIKESTON -- Tracy Lynn Townsend and William Henry Jr. were married in a 5:30 p.m. ceremony April 19, 2003, at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church before the Rev. L.J. Nabors of Sikeston.
The bride is the daughter of Louise Simmons of New Madrid and the late Bufford Simmons, and the bridegroom is the son of William and Katherine Henry of Bell City.
Escorted by her brother, Jerry Simmons of Sikeston, the bride wore a tapioca Victorian style dress with long sleeves and a lace neckline. The bodice was made of layered satin trimmed with pearl-like sequins and the cut-out back featured a sequined pearl-like zipper. The 6-foot long cathedral train was layered with ruffles of satin and pearl-like sequins. To complete her ensemble, the bridal veil was secured with a Victorian hat and she wore satin heels from A.B. Lambdin. The bridal bouquet was made with crimson red roses, white roses and greenery, secured with pearl streamers.
The bride coordinated the music for her wedding. Played by Cornerstone's musicians, Lynn Nabors, Neka Nabors and Derrick Perkins, live selections included "The Lord's Prayer" and "Open My Heart," sung by Janet Herron; "You're Everything to Me," performed by Bonny Grant; and "Looking Back at You" by Vanessa Johnson. Grant also sang "God Bless Our Love" and a taped selection of R. Kelly's song, "Forever" was played.
Delores Simmons served her sister as maid of honor. She wore a crimson red satin tea-length handkerchief style dress with a jacket made of Victorian lace and crimson red satin shoes. She carried a bouquet of matching roses of the bride.
Bridesmaids were Jessica Townsend, daughter of the bride; Ashley Henry, niece of the bridegroom; and Tabitha Williams, friend of the bride. Their crimson red dresses matched that of the maid of honor and were complemented with tapioca colored scarves draped over their shoulders. Completing their attire were crimson red satin shoes and each carried a long stemmed red rose with baby's breath and tied with satin ribbon.
Junior bride was Jade Irene Daniels, niece of the bride. She wore a satin tapioca dress with matching shoes and a tiara with imitation diamonds. She carried a bouquet of red and white roses.
Flower girls Delana Henry, Jocelyn Parnell and Jherrica Simmons, nieces of the bride, wore matching tapioca lace dresses which featured pink tea roses. They wore matching tapioca colored shoes.
Joe Henry of Sikeston attended his brother as best man. Groomsmen were Kevin Jones, brother of the bride and Charles Cassell and Edward Robinson, friends of the bridegroom. Ring bearer was Drake Blackmon of Sikeston, nephew of the bride and ushers were Guss Barnes and Henry Marshall of Sikeston, friends of the bride. Kevin Henry of Bell City, brother of the bridegroom, escorted the mothers of the couple to their seats.
The men in the wedding party wore black lapel ducktail tuxedos with rose boutonnieres.
Greeting guests as door attendants were Calvin Grant Jr. son of the bride and Jerry Simmons Jr., nephew of the bride. Kalyssa Henry, daughter of the bridegroom and Aleshia Henry, niece of the bridegroom, both of Sikeston, were candlelighters.
Acting coordinator Linda Williams of Haywood City made the dresses for the maid of honor and bridesmaids and also created the bridal bouquet. Photographer was Dewayne Jones of Sikeston.
A dinner and dance reception followed the ceremony in the Manhattan Room in Sikeston. The five-tier bridge layered wedding cake, created by Willie Clark of Sikeston, was covered with burgundy and white roses with a cascading underlay of tea roses and greenery. Skyy Jammer Productions provided entertainment for the occasion.
Delores Simmons and Mayola Nabors of Sikeston, sister and friend of the bride, hosted a bridal shower on March 8 at the church.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jr. are making their home in Sikeston.