From

staff reports

Twenty-two years ago, a group of friends resurrected the custom of celebrating Mardi Gras in Natchez. They formed a krewe, elected a court and held a parade. They organized a grand ball.

The group chose Phoenix as the name of the krewe because it seemed in harmony with the idea of resurrecting the Mardi Gras custom from the past.

Names selected for the king and queen of the Krewe of Phoenix were Rex I for the king and Rosalie I for the queen. This year’s king and queen are Stephen W. Comeaux, Rex XXIII, and Becky Wilson, Rosalie XXIII.

Names of the dukes and duchesses were chosen to represent the various periods of Natchez history.

Duke Great Sun and Duchess LaGlorieuse represent the Natchez Indians, who were in the area before anyone else and who called their leader Great Sun.

LaGlorieuse was the name given to a Natchez Indian woman who was a powerful force in the tribe and served as a liaison between the French and Indians while the French were founding their settlement in the early 18th century.

Duke of Versailles and Duchess Marie Therese represent the French period of Natchez history. The name of the palace for the king during the French era in Natchez was Versailles, and his queen was Marie Therese.

Duke Montfort Browne and Duchess of Panmure represent the English period of Natchez history. Montfort Browne was the first commander of the fort in Natchez, which the English named Fort Panmure.

Duke Manuel Gayosa de Lemos and Duchess Marguerite Theresa de Lemos represent the Spanish period of Natchez history and take their names from the Spanish governor and his wife during that era.

Duke of Monmouth and Duchess Eliza Lowe Little represent the antebellum period. John Anthony Quitman lived at Monmouth during this time, representing Mississippi in U.S. Congress. Eliza was the mistress of Rosalie, the home built near the site of the original Fort Rosalie.

Duke Jefferson Davis and Duchess Varina Howell Davis represent the Confederate period of Natchez history. Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederacy. Varina was his wife, whom he courted and married in Natchez at the historic house The Briars.

Stephen W. Comeaux, Rex XXIII

Stephen is a native of Jennings, La., and graduated from high school in Lafayette. After completing an associate’s degree in radiology technology at the Ochsner Foundation in New Orleans, he then went on to pursue a degree in ultrasound technology at the Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He has been active in the medical field locally since 1983.

Stephen lives in Jonesville, La., with his wife, Jean. They share two children: Evan, currently a second-year student at USM, and Elise, a sophomore at Cathedral School. He enjoys a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, and spending time with family and friends.

Rebecca C. Wilson, Rosalie XXIII

Becky is a Natchez native and a graduate of South Natchez High School. She attended Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Carlisle of Natchez.

Becky is a founding member of the Krewe of Phoenix. She has served on the board of directors for a number of years and as call-out ball co-chairman and secretary. Becky is a member of Parkway Baptist Church and the Pilgrimage Garden Club. She is also vice president and secretary for her husband’s business, Black Jack Oil Company and Black Jack Well Services, Inc.

She is married to Kevin Wilson and together they share five children &045; Chris, Crystal, and Zack Wilson, and Jessie and Mattie Geoghegan. Her hobbies include playing golf with her father, watching her daughter play basketball, attending NASCAR races, and following the LSU Tigers in any sport.

Pat Porter, Duchess Eliza Lowe Little

Pat is a native of Monroe, La., but has lived in Natchez for 19 years. She is the mother of Corre Allen Criswell, married to Richard Criswell, of Monroe, La. She is a graduate of West Monroe High School and Northeast Louisiana State University with a bachelor of science in zoology and a bachelor of science in medical technology. Later she went back and received her MBA from Mississippi College in 1993.

She is employed by Beckman Coulter, Inc. as a primary chemistry sales specialist in diagnostic sales. She is a member of St. Mary’s Basilica, Over the Hill Gang, American Society of Clinical Pathologists, and USTA Tennis.

Her hobbies include walking with friends, tennis, sewing, gardening, her schnauzer Miss Shadow, and her four grand-schnauzers: Fiz, Gabbie, Trixie, and Zeplin.

Todd Waycaster, Duke of Monmouth

Todd is a native of Natchez and a graduate of South Natchez High School. He received his B.S. degree in economics from Louisiana State University. Todd graduated magna cum laude from the Mississippi College School of Law where he also served as editor-in-chief of the Mississippi College Law Review.

Todd served three years on active duty in the U.S. Army with the 8th Infantry Division in Germany and with the 10th Mountain Division. He attained the rank of sergeant and was named FORSCOM Soldier of the Year for 1986.

Currently, Todd and his wife, JoAnn, are attorneys in Natchez. They have two children, Nicholas and Olivia. Todd is a member of St. Mary Basilica. His hobbies include golf and LSU Sports.

Angela S. LeTard, Duchess Marguerite Theresa De Lemos

Angela is a graduate of Vidalia High School in Vidalia, La., and Alcorn State University School of Nursing in Natchez, where she obtained her master of nursing and family nurse practitioner degrees. She works with Dr. Randy Tillman at RiverPark Medical Center in the practice of internal medicine and gastroenterology.

Angela is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, United States Association of Equestrians and the Paso Fino Horse Association. Her hobbies include riding, showing, raising, and breeding Paso Fina show horses. She has been active in showing her horses on the national level.

She is the wife of Philip LeTard, and the mother of four children, Rose Farmer of Knoxville, Tenn., Philip Jr., Matthew and Alexandra, all of Natchez.

Wade J. Heatherly, Duke Manuel Gayosa De Lemos

Wade is a graduate of University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently a bank manager at AmSouth Bank.

Wade is participating in the 2004-2005 class of Leadership Natchez. He is the first vice president of the Lions Club of Natchez, and he is the chairman of the building fund for the Humane Society. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Natchez, the Knights of Columbus 3rd Degree Council 1034 of Natchez, and St. Mary’s Basilica.

His enjoys golf. Wade is married to Susannah Byrne Heatherly and they have three children, Paul Wesley, Elizabeth Carolyne, and Joseph Byrne.

Blanche Tidwell Morrison, Duchess La Glorieuse

Blanche is a graduate of the University of Alabama. She is a member of the University of Alabama Alumni Association and the Commerce Executive Society.

She is a member of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Natchez Recreational Council, a member of the Adams County Republican Executive Committee, Republican Presidential Task Force, Pilgrimage Garden Club, Krewe of Phoenix, Krewe of Pink Flamingos, Krewe of Kilarney, the Cathedral Athletic Association, and the &uot;C&uot; Club.

She enjoys Crimson Tide football and watching her children participate in sports. She is married to Tim Morrison and they have three children, Ryan, a freshman at Louisianan State University, Jesse, a freshman at Cathedral, and Tyler, a sixth-grader at Cathedral. They are members if Trinity Episcopal Church.

William P. Dickey III, Duke Great Sun

William P. Dickey III, known by his family and friends as Trey, is an honor graduate of Franklin County High School, a cum laude graduate of Mississippi State University, and a graduate of the University Of Mississippi Medical Center School Of Dentistry. He owns and operates a family dental practice in Natchez.

Trey is a member of First Baptist Church of Natchez, Natchez Santa Claus Committee, Kiwanis Club of the Natchez Trace, American and Mississippi Dental Associations, and the Academy of General Dentistry. He also is a participant and sponsor of the Natchez Children’s Home Annual Chili Cook-Off.

His hobbies and interests include hunting, fishing, golf, and traveling. Trey is married to the former Leigh Herrington of Natchez. They have two children, Mallory Claire and Carter Benjamin.

Nancy J. McLemore, Duchess Marie Therese

Nancy is a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, Calif. She received her B.S. in English and art education and master’s degree in library science from Louisiana State University.

Nancy is the library director at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez . For 18 years she was the librarian and then coordinator of library and information services for the Natchez-Adams School District. She served as the library director at Alcorn Nursing School, and previous to that, taught high school English in Louisiana. In October she served as the Local Arrangements Chair for the Mississippi Library Association Conference. She is also the vice chairman of the two-year college libraries roundtable of MLA.

She is a member of the Vidalia Women’s Club, historian and chairwoman of the Vidalia Christmas Parade Committee, and an active member of St. Mary’s Basilica, Pilgrimage Garden Club, Krewe of Alpheus, and Krewe of Phoenix. Her hobbies include tennis, reading, playing bridge, and traveling.

Nancy is married to Jack H. McLemore Jr., an attorney in Vidalia. They have two children: Jack III who will graduate from LSU this year with a degree in business and history, and Scott, who will graduate from LSU this year in accounting.

Michael A. Ferdinand, Duke of Versailles

Mike is a graduate of Menard High School in Alexandria, La. He acquired a B.S. degree at Louisiana State University. He is the executive director of the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority.

He’s a board member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council, past president of the Southwest Partnership, a Rotarian, a member of the Natchez Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Basilica, and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1034, Fourth Degree Advocate.

His hobbies include cooking, camping, carving, and fencing. Mike is married to Carol Pouncey Ferdinand and they have two children, Patrick and Angel.

Shanna Pollard, Duchess Panmure

Shanna is a graduate of Brookhaven High School, Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, and the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She was a cheerleader at Brookhaven High and at Co-Lin.

She is a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority Alumni, Parkway Baptist Church, Mississippi Association of Educators, Mississippi Public Teachers Association and has been nominated for Who’s Who Among Teachers.

She enjoys camping and boating and spending time with her family. She is married to Bob Pollard. They have three children, a son, Hill, and twin daughters Colbey and Kelcey.

Michael Geoffrey Iles Sr., Duke Monfort Browne

Michael Geoffrey Iles graduated from Trinity Episcopal Day School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi. He owns a dental consulting firm specializing in the purchase and sale of dental practices, operating primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana. He also is vice president and operations manager of Hero’s Journey Media Corporation.

Geoff is a member of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church. He is actively involved as a den leader with the Cub Scouts as well as organizing and coaching in the Natchez Youth Soccer Organization. He also serves as chairman of the board of the Rev. Louis O’Vander Thomas Educational Foundation which operates Trinity Episcopal Day School.

His hobbies include hunting, kayaking, watching his children’s sporting events and traveling. Geoff is married to Simmons Williams Iles and they have two children, Mary Catherine and Michael.