Pam Belk aka Rikashay, President – I guess you could say I'm the type of person who can't sit still.  I like to experience a little of all that life has to offer.  I have attempted to learn to play piano, I like to make jewelry and I enjoy trying my hand at landscaping my yard.  But to sum me up best...I am a motorcycle junkie.  I woke up one morning in 2004 and decided I wanted a motorcycle.  My husband thought I had lost my marbles or was having a mid-life crisis.  I bought my first bike (800 Suzuki Intruder) in October '04.  After riding it to the Athens, GA International Women in Motorcycling Conference in 2006, I decided a needed a bigger bike.  I returned home on a Sunday, and bought a Honda VTX the next day.  It wasn’t until about a year later, the Harley bug got me and I bought a Soft Tail Deuce with a screaming eagle engine.  Wow! Was it fast!!!  For some reason unknown to me, I decided to also buy a Road King the following year.  (Did I mention I’m a motorcycle junkie?)  After keeping 2 bikes about 4 months, I realized I wasn’t really able to ride two at a time…duh, right?  Anyway, I broke down and traded them in on my very first brand new Harley.  My current “baby” is a 2008 FLHX with a custom paint job--#55 out of 200 like it.  The first week I had it, I put nearly 1000 miles on it.  What a blast!  In addition to these activities, I attend Iron Horse Church, a church dedicated to making bikers feel welcome in a Christian environment.  In 2005, I ran across an email about the Dixie Angels.  I joined and the rest is history.  That was the most exciting thing I could imagine...a group of women who get together and share a common love.  The first meeting I attended was just before Hurricane Katrina ravaged our coast line (Aug '05).  The Chapter took a beating in membership, but it's come a long way now into becoming a great group of biker chicks!  I'm proud to be part of this group and can't wait to experience our future adventures.

Renee Collins aka Dragonlady, Founder/Public Affairs/Historian – Well, a little information about myself, I hail originally from Reno, NV and have been riding motorcycles in one form or another since the age of 11.  I purchased my first “street bike” in 1996.  Then one day, after reviewing my “70 Things to Do before I Die” list, I went out and got myself a Suzuki Intruder.  A few years later I decided I needed a bigger bike and treated myself to a 2000 Harley Softtail.  Now I have a 2006 Softail, due to Katrina totally messing up my 2000.  Anyway, after retiring from the Air Force in 2004 I decided I wanted to start a chapter for women riders on the MS coast.  I found the WITW national website and one thing led to another.  Now here we are alive and kickin!  In my spare time I work at Keesler Air Force Base in Civil Service and am pursuing a degree in Psychology through the University of Southern Mississippi.  Although I’m an extremely busy person, I always find time for my passion … riding my bike.  To me riding is one of the most empowering and relaxing things I have ever done for myself!  I have always said, “I would leave a man before I’d leave my bike”!  Anyway, I’m in association with some very beautiful, dynamic and talented women who share the same passion.  I am so grateful to have this opportunity to bring something together which is only getting better and better.  I am also very proud to have served as past president of the Dixie Angels chapter.

Mary Lynn Frank aka Blondie, Treasurer/Events – I go from Banker to Biker weekly.  I’ve always loved Harley Davidson and bought a ‘97 Dyna in October of 2005.  I rode on back, and then decided that I wanted to ride my own.  So my husband bought me a Suzuki Marauder to learn on.  For my birthday he gave me the R.I.D.E. Motorcycle Safety course where I learned a lot of confidence and skills.  My husband then bought me a 2007 Heritage Softtail.  I’m also a member of the Iron Horse “Biker” Community Church in Gulfport and Jeff and I were the first couple married in the church, which was a “Hog Tied” all out biker wedding.  I joined the Dixie Angels in 2007 and look forward to forging friendships and riding with the girls.

Beth Howard, Web Mistress – I’ve had a love for motorcycles all my life, but didn’t start riding until my late 40’s.  After marring my husband in 2001 I rode behind him for 3 years then bought a Honda Shadow (much to his chagrin, he’s a Harley Snob).   I joined the Dixie Angels in 2006 then convinced myself that I could handle a bigger bike so I bought a Dyna Low Rider.  I was pretty happy until my husband made the mistake of letting me take his Street Glide out for a run … well that’s all it took, just a few months later I purchased one of my own and now I’m riding in “hog heaven”!  Being a part of the Dixie Angels has allowed me the opportunity to learn new skills and meet some wonderful women who have the same passion for riding.  Besides motorcycles I enjoy golf, my dog Dolce’, watching the Ocean Springs HS Greyhounds and following the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Helen Hancock – I started riding in 1987, two-up with my husband.  I got my own bike in 1988 but after a bad accident went to three wheels.  I am an attorney with the federal judiciary and “cycling” is a passion.  I am currently president of God’s Gulf Riders, Christian Motorcyclists Association in Gautier, MS.  I have our Christmas run to the Humane Society in December 205 to thank for my dog Radar, who I adopted that day despite my protests to the other ladies to “keep me from adopting a dog while we are there!”  Women riding together give us all a chance to let down our hair and learn about the sport without being intimated by the “dumb” questions which sometimes comes up in a women’s head about riding.  I’ve been a part of the Dixie Angels since March/April of 2005 – almost since Renee started the chapter.  LET’S RIDE!

Mary Slater – I raised 3 children as a single parent and then married my Donald when I was 50.  My main job over the years was as a purchasing agent/field expediter in construction and I traveled extensively.  I got my first bike, a small scooter, at the age of 52; then my first motorcycle, a Honda Rebel 250 at the age of 60.  That’s when I found my niche in life; riding, riding, riding.  I currently ride a black and white 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe.

Annette Williams aka Country – I have been a member of the Dixie Angels since June of 2005.  I started riding bikes in 2003 and trained on a Honda VLX.  In 2004 I wanted a bigger bike so I bought a 2004 Softail Classic, which I love even more with the Voyager Kit on it.

Tammy Howard – I joined the Dixie Angels in 2009 after doing several rides with the group.  I’m originally from Biloxi but at the age of 49 I got a wild hair, maybe a midlife crisis who knows, any way I quit my job of 32 years, sold  my dream home, packed up my belongings, bought two Harley’s and headed for Houston with my husband.  My friends back home are still in disbelief that I actually did it.  There’s lots of great riding here, hill country all around.  I’m also a member of the Wild Hawgs of Texas, the Waller Road Dawgs of Texas, Republic Harley HOG chapter, and HOG.  I rode dirt bikes as a teenager and bought my first street bike in September 2007, a Dyna Super Glide.  After riding it for a year, I decided I needed a bike that was more for my height, so I bought a 2009 Heritage for my 50th birthday last year.  I’m looking forward to many great rides with the Angles on my visits to Biloxi.

Rhonda Gorden - Riding, riding, and riding is my passion. I started riding as a passenger in 2003 when my husband purchased his first bike. After riding with my husband for about three months I discovered I wanted to be in control of the wheel. Shortly after telling my husband this he purchased me a 2003 Honda 600 VLX. I learned on this bike and shortly after realized I wanted more power. From there I moved up to a 2003 Honda Aero 750, which I cherished. I rode this for a while and after Katrina all our riding buddies moved so I sold it and decided to be a passenger once again. The passenger riding lasted a little while until I was hired at Mike Bruno’s Northshore Harley Davidson as an administrative Assistant and title clerk. Well since my employment I have converted my passion for Honda to Harley and have since purchased two Harley’s one of which I am driving now. I currently ride a 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Soft tail. My soft tail is my favorite bike of all.  I have three beautiful Daughters 23, 18, 16, one Step Daughter 13, and one Step Son 15 and recently have found out I am going to be a Grandmother for the first time. When I am not spending time with my family you can find me hanging out letting my Hair fly in the wind with all my riding buddies.  When I started working at Mike Bruno’s I always stated that I wanted to be in a women’s club. Well That has come through thanks to a coworker getting me the info from the Dixie Angels in September of 2008 on a ride to our Store. I am now proud to have been elected Secretary and have enjoyed every minute I have had with this group so far.

Theresa West aka Heavy Duty - I have been around motorcycles for most of my life.  Rode 2-up with my husband (Danny) until he thought it would be good for me to get back on my own, after 35 yrs.  I was as much terrified as I was excited.  We joined the Southern Cruisers Riding Club Feb. 2004.  I went from being a member of the Gulf Coast Chapter to being the First Officer in 18 months!  What a turn around that was for me.  Riding is so liberating!  My daughter told me about a woman that she knew who wanted to start a women’s riding club and yes, I am one of the original six member of the Dixie Angels and proud of it!  Today I’m riding a 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe.  I have put over 62,000 miles on it since I bought it in May 2005.  It wasn’t my first bike but was certainly my dream bike.  I started off on a 1996 Honda Shadow 1100, put over 14k on it the first 16 months of my “getting back into the saddle”.  The Shadow was very forgiving bike and was so easy to handle.  It doesn’t matter what you ride…just RIDE!  It also really doesn’t matter what riding club you belong to but belonging to any club is a very good thing…and belonging to the Dixie Angels is great!  Ssshhhh, but don’t tell my Cruisers I said that! LOL

Other Members:
Cherie Lebouef
Denise Sinclair
Diane Foto
Dorothy Daigle
Juanita McAuley
Juliette Griffith