Special to The Democrat

The Natchez Democrat

The Krewe of Mer theme for 2004 is &uot;Karnival ‘de Mer Krewz ‘en the World.&uot; They will cruise to various countries in the world during the Mardi Gras celebration.

The Mer Grand Ball will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 14, at the Natchez Convention Center. The event is by invitation only.

The 2004 King, Arthur J. Reed, is married to Edna Ford Reed. He is the father of three, Arthur Jr., Harvey and Andreda and has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He is retired from ABC, where he worked in radio, then on TV, and the last 15 years as a driver and audio tech for sports, football, baseball and NCAA sports. His hobbies include golf, fishing, gardening, sports and spending time with his family.

Queen Jacqueline J. Letcher is married to Clarence W. Letcher III. She has five children, Lillie W. Brown, Jermyn K.W. Jackson, India L. Letcher, Clar’encia W. Letcher and Adrianna V. Murphy; one godchild, Irene L. Holiday; and two grandchildren, Bre’Ania J. Myles and Kayla S. Brown.

She is the owner of Mrs. Big Inc. and is a member of Kingston United Progressive Methodist Church. She enjoys traveling, shopping and spending time with family, and she plans a trip to Seoul, South Korea, in March. She is a member of Lizzie Shumaker Temple No. 1052, Deborah Chapter No. 5 Order of Eastern Star and the NAACP. She is vice president of the Krewe of Mer.

Renza Johnson Grennell will represent Mexico.

She is married to Jonathan Grennell Jr. Renza is a retired educator now tutoring with the Natchez public schools. She is the mother of six, Jonathan, Darryl, Lljuna, Ann, Thomas and Renza and she has six grandchildren.

She is a member of Zion Chapel AME Church and many civic organizations. She enjoys gardening both vegetables and flowers, sewing, music, dancing, cooking and just being creative.

Jonathan Grennell Jr. will represent Italy.

He is married to Renza Grennell. Jonathan is a retired supervisor from Johns Manville Corp. He is the father of Jonathan, Darryl, Lljuna, Ann, Thomas and Renza. He is the grandfather of Jadtrl, Justin, Jonathan, Jaylan, Austin and Danyell. He is a member of Clearmont Baptist Church and other civic organizations.

Jonathan enjoys working with metal designs, gardening, music, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Linda McMurtry will represent Russia.

She is the mother of three children, Alexander, Kenric and LaShonda McMurtry. Linda is a retired educator from the Natchez-Adams School District and currently teaches in the Concordia Parish School District.

She received her B.S. degree from Alcorn State University in Lorman and her master’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge with further studies at USM and Alcorn.

She is a member of Silver Leaf Chapter No. 168 Order of the Eastern Star and the National Council of Negro Women, a board member of the Partnership for a Healthy Adams County and a volunteer for the Natchez Stewpot. She is also a member of the Union Baptist Church and serves as vice president of the senior choir.

She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, singing, home decorating and traveling.

Duchess Courtney Frazier will represent Brazil.

She is the daughter of the 1998 King and Queen Billy Joe and Shirley Frazier. Courtney graduated from Natchez High School in 1999 with honors. While in high school Courtney was involved in many extracurricular activities, such as the Lady Blues. During her senior year, Courtney had the privilege to dance in Super Bowl XXXIII. She is also a 2003 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She is a member of Richland Baptist Church, where she serves on the Usher Board. Courtney is employed at Wal-Mart and works in the pharmacy. She has a 3-year-old daughter, Jada Shelby. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, shopping, swimming and spending time with her family and friends.

The 2003 Queen Thelma S. Newsome is a native of Natchez. She was born to the late Elizabeth M. Sims, the second oldest of five girls. Thelma was educated in the public schools of Natchez. She obtained her B.S. degree from Alcorn State University and her master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has been employed with Natchez-Adams School District for 32 years and currently serves as the director of federal programs.

She is an active member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, a Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and a life member of Alcorn Alumni Association. In addition, she holds membership in various other professional, community and civic organizations. Thelma is married to Donnell Newsome and they have four children and eight grandchildren.

The 2003 King Donnell Newsome was born at Alcorn A&M College in Claiborne County to Oddie M. Newsome. He was adopted by his grandparents, Milligan and Harriet Newsome. He attended public schools in Claiborne County and graduated from Addison High School in Port Gibson. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Jackson State University in May 1968. In May 1975, he received a double masters from Jackson State University, one in early childhood and one in elementary education (K-8).

He is retired from the State of Mississippi and is presently employed by the Concordia Parish School Board at Ferriday Junior High School, where he teaches seventh-grade enrichment math and coaches football. He is a member of the Wharlest Jackson Elks Lodge No. 1675, currently holding the position of Exalted Ruler, and has received the highest degree in Elkdom, which is the Past Grand Exalted Ruler Degree. In addition, Donnell serves as the Vice Chief-Antler of Past Exalted Ruler’s Council No. 129, and is assistant director of the Civil Liberties Department for the Mississippi State Association of Elks. He is married to Thelma Sims Newsome, and together they have four children and eight grandchildren. Donnell also had one son who is deceased.

Newsome is a member of Christ Temple Church of Christ Holiness, USA, located in Port Gibson.

Frances Morris will represent Africa.

Duchess Frances &uot;Fran&uot; Morris has been a resident of Natchez for the past 32 years. She is a graduate of St. Francis High School and graduated from the Alcorn State School of Nursing in 1980. Fran is a retired registered nurse, having retired from Natchez Regional Medical Center in September 2002. Her work prior to Natchez Regional included Dumas Drug Store in Natchez; Askin Co., Winn-Dixie Co. and Oschner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans.

Fran is a member of St. John UMC. She is also serving as lay-leader and president of UMW. She is a former member Lizzie Shumaker Temple No. 1052 and past State Grand. She is presently a member of Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses Association, both local and state, holding office in both. She received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Leadership and Contributions in May 2000.

She is now serving her second term on the Board of Directors of the Historic Natchez Foundation and serves on the Natchez Historic Preservation Committee (Feb. 14, 1998 until present) and the United Way Board of Directors. She is a present member of the Krewe of Mer, serving as financial secretary. She is the mother of three children: Myrna Matthews, Gwendolyn Ford and Sidney Morris. Her hobbies are fishing, singing and volunteer work.

Renne Sewell Carr will represent the USA.

Renne Sewell Carr will serve as Duchess. Renne graduated from North Natchez High School. She is a member of Wilderness B.C., the Northside Cowboys Riding Club, the Adams County Recreational Committee, the National Arbor Day Foundation and is president of North Natchez Class of 1975 and co-owner of R&R Carr Transport. Her hobbies include painting ceramics, gardening, woodwork and spending time with family and friends. Carr is married to Ray Carr Sr., and they have three sons, Ray Jr., Mardriquez and Preston, and three grandchildren, Mar’Dray, Mardriquez Jr. and Mardrinquez Brenna.

Duchess Ameldia Evans will represent Australia.

Ameldia Evans is married to Calvin Evans and they have four children, Alvia, Chadwick, Leslie and Calvin Jr.

She is employed with Rapides Regional Medical Center as registered respiratory therapist. She is a member of the AARC and NBRC, a CPR instructor and a member of various other organizations. She is also a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.

Her hobbies include traveling, fishing and hunting.

Calvin Evans will represent France.

He is married to Ameldia and they have four children, Alvia, Chadwick, Leslis and Calvin Jr.

Calvin is the owner of Evans Railcar Repair Services. He attends the Church of Christ.

His hobbies include hunting, fishing and traveling.

Eddie Hargrave, who is married to Doris Hargrave, is representing Japan. He has five children and is co-owner of Hargrave Masonry Construction and Rental.

He is a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church and is a graduate of Sadie V. Thompson High School. He is a volunteer coach for youth basketball, baseball and Boy Scouts, and he is a member of Associated Contractors and is a Mason.

Andrew January is representing New Orleans and is serving as Duke. He is married to Margaret B. January and has one daughter, Andrea, and one son, Marques. He also has one granddaughter, Alexes.

He is a field technician with Cable One. A Baptist, he is a graduate of North Natchez High School and Natchez Vocational Trade School. He enjoys surfing the Internet, traveling and working on computers.