VALDOSTA — The 87th Annual Mystery Ball set out to say goodbye to the yellow brick road Friday night in honor of Elton John’s farewell tour. 

Guests entered the Valdosta Country Club by way of a 40-foot yellow brick road with disco lights accentuating the walkway.

The lobby had photo booths for guest pictures and a grand piano with a special guest to play all the Elton John classics.

The bars were decorated with astronauts in the theme of “Rocketman,” while the ballroom was lit up with disco balls and lights and draped British flags for tablecloths.

Founded in 1932 by a group of women inspired by Mardi Gras, the Mystery Ball is a deep-rooted tradition for Valdosta residents.

Every year is the same: female members dress in the same costumes and masks according to theme to hide their identities from their male counterparts. The night is spent finding the women, even though they’re all dressed the same.

Costume chairmen Mrs. Converse Bright and Mrs. Lee Dickey designed the Elton John-inspired costumes with sequined purple jackets over the top of Elton John T-shirts.

The look was completed with a captain’s hat, attached mask and the infamous rock n’ roll glasses.

Mrs. Frank Bird III, the lead out chairman, escorted the masked ladies into the Valdosta Country Club while “Crocodile Rock” played in the background. Choreographers Mrs. Parrish Clark and Mrs. Chad Shenton lead the way.

The current officers are president Mrs. John Peeples, vice president Miss Jolyn Smith, recording secretary Mrs. Walter Elliott, corresponding secretary Mrs. Scott Crane, treasurer Mrs. Howard Dasher III, finance chair Mrs. Tom McTier, members-at-large Mrs. Dan Coleman and Mrs. Justin Cowart, past president Mrs. William Pope Langdale III, parliamentarian Mrs. Tommy Hatcher and historian Mrs. John A. Lastinger.

The Mystery Ball welcomed new member Mrs. Will Blanchard.

Out-of-town guests were invited to attend, they include: From Atlanta, Mr. John Elliott and Ms. Anna Justice, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. Lewin Hansen, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Crago, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Jones, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shenton, Miss Mary Catherine Mackey, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Burns and Mr. and Mrs. George Reinhardt, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Tillman.

Other guests included were Mr. and Mrs. Alex Bartholomew of Augusta, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Smotherman; Mr. and Mrs. Kaleb Tillman of Augusta and Miss Kelsey Tillman and Mr. John Kirk of Chamblee, guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tillman; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Illges of Birmingham, guest of Mr. and Mrs. John Peeples; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Matthews of Gainesville, guest of Mrs. Charles Templeton; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Craig of Hampton, and Mr. and Mrs. Brent Weingarten of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., guests of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Cocke; Mr. and Mrs. Jerry McGee of Jacksonville, Fla., guest of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Heard; Mr. and Mrs. Eric Miller of Lilburn, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Dewar; Ms. Christina Anganis of Midland, Mich., guest of Mr. and Mrs. David Cregger; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wheeler of Monticello, Fla., and Mr. and Mrs. Sean Tintle of Smyrna, guests of Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Bowers; Miss Doris Carter of Oxford, Miss., and Miss Kendall Dye and Miss Kristy McPherson of Tampa, guests of Mr. and Mrs. Len Carter; Mr. and Mrs. Allen Eager of Roswell, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Coleman; Mr. and Mrs. Font Tornabene of St. Simons Island, and Col. and Mrs. Jeff Hooks of St. Augustine, Fla., guests of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Tillman; Mr. and Mrs. Fred DeLoach III of Sandy Springs, guest of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lastinger; Mr. and Mrs. Micah Manning of St. Marys, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Cowart.

Also invited were Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Crago of St. Petersburg, Fla., guest of Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Crago; Mr. and Mrs. Ferrell Scruggs of St. Simons Island and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Winton of Thomasville, guests of Mr. and Mrs. Converse Bright; Ms. Layton Fillion of Tifton, guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Langdale; Miss Allison Smotherman of Young Harris, guest of Mr. and Mrs. John Smotherman; and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barclay of Oxfordshire, England, guest of Mrs. Howard Dasher Jr.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.