Special to The Democrat

NATCHEZ — The Natchez and Pilgrimage garden clubs recently announced the royalty for Spring Pilgrimage 2013.

Each king and queen will reign for approximately two weeks during March.

Natchez Garden Club king: Joshua Miller Gamberi

Joshua Miller Gamberi is the son Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gamberi. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Leckie of Natchez and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gamberi Sr. of Natchez.

Josh is a 2009 graduate of Cathedral High School and attended Belhaven University where he majored in sports medicine.

He now attends Louisiana State University and is majoring in environmental management systems and hopes to complete a double major in kinesiology.

In high school Josh earned Eagle Scout, was Mr. CHS and was a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.

In football he lettered three years and was named to the All Metro, All District and All Region teams.

In tennis he lettered two years. He was a member of peer ministry team, CYO and attended Catholic Heart Work Camp for three summers.

At Belhaven he was on the football team, was a dean’s list scholar, received the Academic Excellence in Athletics Award and was a member of the Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Club.

He attends St. Mary Basilica Catholic Church.

Josh enjoys hunting, snow skiing, wake boarding, fishing and cooking.

His past pageant participation includes Little Maypole, Big Maypole, Picnic, Wheel roller in Showboat, Groom and Groomsman in The Wedding, Raising of the Flag (Indian and Soldier), Polka, Confederate Flag Runner, 2011 Court and 2012 Court.

Natchez Garden Club queen: Betsy Lee Daggett

Betsy Lee Daggett is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rod Daggett. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Calhoun of Monterey and the late Mr. and Mrs. Dick Daggett of Jonesville.

Betsy is a 2010 graduate of Cathedral High School and attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College where she was an honors student. She now attends Louisiana State University and is majoring in cardiopulmonary science. She is a member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society.

In high school Betsy played and lettered in slow-pitch softball for six years, fast-pitch softball for six years, track for six years and basketball for four years. She was named to the All District teams several times for slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball and was named All-Metro Player of the Year for fast-pitch.

She was member of the Key Club, Pep Club and an honor roll student.

She has also been active in community service by helping raise money for charitable events. She attends Trinity Presbyterian Church in Jonesville.

Betsy enjoys hunting, fishing and athletics.

Her past pageant participation includes Little Maypole, Big Maypole, Polka Favor Girl, Picnic, Soiree, Polka, Placard Bearer, Raising of the Flag, Wedding and 2011 Court.

Pilgrimage Garden Club King: Harrison Lambdin Burns

Harrison Lambdin Burns is the son of Paul Anthony and Laura Lambdin Burns.

He is also the grandson of Therese Chovest Burns and the late Peter Theophile Burns Jr. of Natchez and James William Overton and the late Bethany Lambdin Overton and the late Waldo Putnam Lambdin of Natchez.

Burns is a 2009 Cathedral High School graduate and is currently attending University of Alabama.

He is majoring in chemical and biological engineering. He is a member of Lambdi Chi Alpha General Fraternity, Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Sigma Theta Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and was on the dean’s list in the spring of 2010 and president’s list in the summer of 2012.

His hobbies include watching Alabama football, New Orleans Saints football, soccer, hunting and fishing.

His previous pageant participation includes Raising of the Flag, Little and Big Maypole, the Picnic, Showboat, The Wedding, Polka, Soiree and Soiree lead for two years, and he served as a 2012 general on the Pilgrimage Garden Club Court.

Pilgrimage Garden Club King: Abagail May McCary

Abagail May McCary is the daughter of Tim and Penny McCary. She is also the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. A.D. McCary of Natchez and the late Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Williamson.

McCary is a 2010 graduate of Trinity Episcopal Day School and is currently attending Louisiana Tech University.

She is majoring in marketing and analysis.

While she was in high school, Abagail was awarded the D.A.R. Good Citizen Award, American Legion Award, United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award and was a member of the Trinity Key Club for four years and secretary her senior year. She was a yearbook staff member, the business editor her senior year, and treasurer of her class for four years.

In college, she is a member of Sigma Kappa sorority and received the Sigma Kappa Sisterhood of the Year Award. She was the 2010 Panhellenic Treasurer and a Sigma Kappa House chairman. She is a member of the Order of Mega Greek Honor Society and is a student recruiter for Louisiana Tech University.

McCary has been involved in the pageant since she was 3, first participating in the Showboat as a townsperson and in the Little Maypole.

She was page, to Queen Jackie Bee Benson and King Richard Punches.

Also, she was a Placard Bearer and danced in the Big Maypole. She was a lifelong ballet student of Middleton School of Dance.

She performed Can-Can for two years and the Soiree for four years. She was the lead in the Soiree, Sweetheart Dance.