By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

How common is it to have a family with four generations of homecoming queens in it—in addition to several other homecoming and prom queens on both sides of the family?
That is the reality for Ayrie Smith Staley, a teacher in Huntington who grew up in South Point.
Ayrie’s grandmother—Bettie Lou Turvey—was homecoming queen at Pedro High School, which is now Rock Hill. Ayrie’s mother, Kathy Cook Smith, was homecoming queen at South Point High School in 1971. Ayrie’s daughter, Bindi Staley, was crowned homecoming queen at South Point this past Oct. 4.
“I have aunts and cousins who were homecoming queens, too,” Ayrie said. “Both of my mom’s granddaughters were homecoming queens.”
Kathy’s sister crowned her homecoming queen.
“It’s so crazy,” Ayrie said.

Kathy said having four generations of homecoming queens is “overwhelming.”
“My brother has a daughter who was a prom queen,” she said. “It’s big in our family. My sister was a prom queen. It is very rare.”
Back when Kathy was younger, she was shy and laid back. She married her South Point High School sweetheart.
“My mom was homecoming queen,” she said. “It didn’t really mean anything. When my sister got it, I thought maybe I’d want to run for that. My sisters were all majorettes. They were really popular. I didn’t know we were popular until years later!”
Bindi is student body president at South Point High School, too.
“That’s rare to get both of those,” Kathy said. “She has a high GPA. She’s involved in everything. She doesn’t stop.”
Kathy’s husband, Randy Smith, a track coach for years, works at Portsmouth now. He worked at Green. His brother Rusty’s daughter was homecoming queen on that side of the family.
“He has a granddaughter who was homecoming queen, too” Kathy said.
The impact of four generations of homecoming queens and all the other prom queens in the family is emotional for Ayrie.
“I can’t even describe it in words,” she said. “Bindi said it made her feel so proud to keep it in the family and carry on the tradition.”
Truthfully, Ayrie was hoping Bindi would not run for homecoming queen because it is a lot of pressure.
“You’re up against so many girls and they’re all great girls,” Ayrie said. “She was elected student body president and said she was running for homecoming queen. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness!’”
Bindi finished soccer. She is also a cheerleader and holds a record in track.
As of now, she plans on attending the University of Findlay in Ohio—majoring in a health care discipline.
“The sky’s the limit,” Ayrie said. “You have to do what makes you happy.”
Ayrie said it was surreal hearing them announce Bindi’s name as homecoming queen.
“I’m incredibly proud of her and everything she has accomplished,” she said. “She loves to make people laugh and leave a smile on their faces. Bindi is very humble about being crowned.”
“It felt great; I was with so many beautiful girls who were great representations for our school,” Bindi said. “Amazing night! It was great to carry on the tradition for my family.”
Other recent queens in their family include Madeline Smith of Raceland-Worthington High School, 2023; Makinzie Luhrsen of South Point High School, 2022; Ashley Cooke of Dixie Heights High School, 2010; and Dr. Chelsea Shepherd of Symmes Valley High School in 2007.