The Red Hat Dolls

Debra Jones, Madge
McClinton and Minnie Donald

With “royal” names like Many Task Mama, Sassy Sandra, Mademoiselle Wawa, Gracious Gerald, Tantalizing T, Sensational Staphine (pronounced Stephanie), Simply Fabulous, Delightful Debra, Marvelous Madge, Elegant Edna and Miss X, you know The Red Hat Dolls are all about fun.

They’re known, of course, by the fabulous red hats they wear when they’re out and about together as a group — though those younger than 50 wear pink or lavender. During their birthday months, they wear purple.

Sandra Anderson and
Christean Cogdell

The group of 25 was formed by Minnie Donald in October 2009 and is part of nationwide Red Hat Society. There are at least 15 other groups in Paducah.

“Our purpose is to have fun and do community service,” says early member Sherona Crim (below right) — she’s Many Task Mama. “We like to bring happiness and good spirits to those around us. We’re all so busy. When we get together, we just like to have fun and recognize one another’s hard work.”

Members join by invitation of the group and pay a yearly $20 fee to the Red Hat Society. The rules are few, and unlike the Masons, there are no secrets in the Red Hat Society.

The Dolls share a special wave, kind of like the Queen Mother’s. Their official instrument is a kazoo. And they “brush their brims” instead of hugging. (Hats can get squished!) Plus, this especially creative group has a mascot, a full-sized doll which they dress up and take with them on some events.

The Red Hat Dolls meet monthly, planning activities at least three months ahead of time. They collect canned goods for the Community Kitchen, walk in and raise funds for the Relay for Life and they’re always a lively addition to Paducah’s Christmas parade.

Four sets of sisters are in the group including, from left to right, Wanda Wilson and Geraldine Cozart, Stephanie and Tina Cooper, Sherona Crim and Debra Jones and Sandra Anderson and Christean Codgell.

Men are allowed to tag along as some of the Dolls need their chauffeurs.

Geraldine Cozart, Wanda
Wilson (owner of 21 red hats)
and Tina Cooper

Do Red Hat women have similar personalities? No doubt that timidity would be a hard quality to have seeing as how those fabulous red hats are quite the attention getters.

Queen Mother Geraldine Cozart? She says that the best group has “a little bit of everything.”

For more info on The Red Hat Dolls, send an email to Many Task Mama!