The Krewe of Janus recently announced its royalty for the 2017 Mardi Gras season.

The krewe’s grand ball will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center. The ball is invitation only.

The theme for the 2017 Mardi Gras season is “Black LAUGHS Matter “ which is a tribute to black comedies that paved the way.

The Krewe of Janus 2016-2017 officers include, President Gloria Dangerfield, Vice President Lisa Johnson, Recording Secretary Connie Merrick,  Financial Secretary Fannie Campbell, Treasurer Barbara N. Johnson,  Sergeant-at-Arms Yolanda Cooley, members-at-large Wilbur Johnson Sr. and Natalie Lyles and Captain LaRoy Merrick.

The 2017 royalty are:

King Janus XVI DaMorris John Merrick Sr.

King DaMorris Merrick is a native of Natchez. He is the son of Queen Connie Merrick and Theodore Merrick. He has one brother, Captain LaRoy Merrick.

He and his beautiful wife, Eugenia, along with their four children, Jaquan, DaMorris Jr., Kaydence and Ryleigh, currently reside in Hattiesburg.

DaMorris is a 2004 graduate of Natchez High School and is a proud employee of Coca-Cola Bottling Company, as well as owner and operator of Divine Mobile Detail. He is also a youth basketball official.

DaMorris is an active member of the Real Life Church where he serves on the sound and television ministry.

He enjoys spending time with family and friends, coaching the Mississippi Elite Titans baseball team on which his son plays, playing basketball and football, watching the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bulls and Duke University basketball and collecting Retro Jordan shoes.

DaMorris’ favorite scripture is Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Queen Janus XVI Connie Miller Merrick

Queen Connie Merrick is the daughter of the late Anna and Jessie A. Miller and the late John and Joyce Brown. She has six sisters, Jessie, Mary, Maggie, Faye, Tracy and Catherine; one brother, Clyde; two sons, Captain LaRoy Merrick and King DaMorris Merrick; one daughter in-law, Eugenia and four grandchildren, Jaquan, DaMorris Jr., Kaydence and Ryleigh.

Connie is a 1981 graduate of Biloxi High School, and she went on to attend Alcorn State University.

She is currently employed by Merit Health Natchez and Reeve’s Drug Store.

Connie is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she serves in the usher ministry, and she is the current secretary in the Krewe of Janus. She enjoys shopping, reading and spending time with her children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Connie lives by the motto, “God has blessed me and because of His blessings I am eager to bless others.”

Captain LaRoy Merrick 

Captain LaRoy Merrick is a native of Natchez, but currently resides in Jackson. He is the son of Queen Connie Merrick and Theodore Merrick. He has one brother, King DaMorris  Merrick.

LaRoy is a 2000 graduate of Natchez High School. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance in August 2004. He received a master’s in education from the University of Southern Mississippi in December 2012 and a specialist in educational leadership in August 2015.

LaRoy is currently working on his doctorate in education leadership at Mississippi College and is scheduled to complete his course work in August 2017.

He is currently employed at Jim Hill High School as the international baccalaureate coordinator, and he is also an event artist.

He attends Anderson United Methodist Church and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

LaRoy enjoys shopping, reading and spending time with his family and friends, especially the AOE Crew.

LaRoy’s motto is “I know whatever challenges God is putting me through today, it’s because He is preparing me to be greater tomorrow.”

Duchess LaWanda Baskin 

Duchess LaWanda Baskin is a native of New Orleans, but spent her formative years in Natchez. She is the daughter of Leonard Wallace Sr. and the late Olegrette King Wallace and is married to Arrocus Baskin Sr., and they have three lovely children, Morgan, Madison and Arrocus Jr.

LaWanda is a 1993 honor graduate of Natchez High School. In 1997, she received her bachelor of science degree in nursing degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She later went on to further her career by earning her master’s of science degree in nursing from Alcorn State University in 2012. She is currently completing work toward her doctorate in nursing with an emphasis on systems leadership and health outcomes at the University of Southern Mississippi.

LaWanda is employed by Alcorn State University as a family nurse practitioner, assistant professor and Coordinator of graduate nursing programs. She is a member of Zion Hill No. 1 Baptist Church. She is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, a member of the Mississippi Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and a member of the Southern Nurses Research Society.  Baskin is a member of the Zeta Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Deborah Chapter #5 Order of the Eastern Star.  She is also active in the community as an American Heart Association First Aid/CPR instructor and 4H-Club Parent volunteer. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, traveling, camping and above all spending time with her family.  One of Baskin’s favorite quotes comes from the well-known author Maya Angelou; “People may forget your name but they will never forget how you made them feel”.

Duchess Fannie Campbell 

Duchess Campbell is the daughter of the late Herman Lewis and Lettie Hall Lewis.  She has two daughters, Alisha and Yolanda Campbell and one goddaughter, Anastasia ‘Staci’ Hutchins. She is a graduate of Saint Francis High School.  Fannie is a retiree of the Adams County Chancery Clerk’s Office, where she served the residents of Adams County for 37 years.  Residents had come to depend on and trust Fannie’s expertise and her knowledge of the inner workings of the Chancery Clerk’s Office.  Fannie is a lifelong member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she is currently a member of the Usher Board. Since her retirement, she has been traveling from coast to coast and country to country with her 2 daughters.  When she isn’t traveling, she is answering requests from friends to bake one of her famous cream cheese cakes or her delicious strawberry cakes.  She also enjoys taking road trips to go shopping or to visit her daughter in Georgia.  Her upcoming travels in 2017 include relaxing on the shores of Montego Bay Jamaica, visiting family in Chicago, IL and cruising to Nassau, Bahamas.  Retirement fits Fannie well and she’s enjoying her leisure time and travels. Fannie’s favorite scripture is found in Romans, 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Duchess Natalie Lyles 

Duchess Lyles is a native of Alexandria, LA but became a Natchez resident in 1997. She is married to Jerry Lyles, Jr. and together they have five wonderful children: Jerrod, Natalia, Jeremy, Karla, and the late Kera Lynn, and one son-in-law, Terrance. They also have four beautiful granddaughters: Paris, Jaylon, Chloe, and Dakota. She is a graduate of Peabody Magnet High School and she went on to attend Southern University, Tanana Valley Community College, and is currently pursuing a degree from Copiah Lincoln Community College. Duchess Lyles is employed at Concordia Bank & Trust and co-owner of Jerry Lyles Enterprises with her husband. She is a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, a member a RV club titled The Bayou Bluebirds Club, and the treasurer for the Nations Coalition of 100 Black Women. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, family and friends. She loves to decorate, shop and travel. Lyles lives by the motto: “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets so love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it, if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

Duke Arrocus Baskin Sr. 

Duke A. Baskin is a native of Houston, MS. He is married to his beautiful wife, Duchess Lawanda, and they have three gorgeous children, Morgan, Madison, and Arrocus Jr. Duke A. Baskin graduated from Houston High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. A. Baskin has been employed by Entergy at their River Bend Station as a Senior Nuclear Equipment Operator for approximately ten years. He is a member of Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church, a masonic brother of John G Jones Lodge #3, and a member of the Rho Epsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. A. Baskin enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, spending time with family and pretty much anything else requiring him to be outdoors. His favorite quote is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and yours.”

Duke Keary Baskin 

Duke K. Baskin is a native of Houston, MS. He is the son of Henry and the late Canary Baskin and is married to Tawania and together they have three beautiful children, Cynahmon, Kyla, and Jace. Duke K. Baskin is a 1997 graduate of Houston High School and in 2001 he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in computer science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is employed by Enterprise Holding, Inc. as Branch Rental Manager. K. Baskin is a member of Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church where he serves as a member of the Deacon ministry. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, woodworking, riding four wheelers and spending time with his family. K. Baskin’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Duke Christopher ‘Chris’ Dunbar 

Duke Dunbar is the son of the late Annie ‘Bea’ Dunmore-Dunbar and the late Larry Reed, Sr. and has four sisters and four brothers. He is a 1997 graduate of Natchez High School and received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Alcorn State University in Industrial Technology in 2001. He returned to Alcorn in 2002 and became certified as a Vocational Educator in Computer Systems Technology. In March of 2015 Duke Dunbar decided to pursue a career with AT&T as a Wire Technician, where he is currently employed, installing U-Verse. He also works part-time at Davidson Package Store. Dunbar is an active member of Pilgrim Baptist Church. He is also a member of Clover Hill Lodge #13, A.F.&A.M., Edna Anderson Chapter #11, Order of the Eastern Star, The MWWTM Grant Jr. Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. for the State of Mississippi, a member of the Bernard Adams Past Masters’ Council, MW Hiram Grand Consistory, Alkoran Temple #35 Ancient Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and a member of the Alcorn State University Alumni Association. In his spare time you can find Dunbar helping others as he is always called upon by someone, playing with his camera doing photography as he is “Capturing the Moment,” riding his motorcycle, or spending time with his many godchildren. He can also be found trying to help children that are lost or headed down the wrong path even though he is not in the education field anymore. Dunbar’s motto is, “I love helping others, not seeking praise from man, for I know that my blessings come from God, the most Omnipotent one!”