NATCHEZ — The Krewe of Janus is delighted to announce its 2019 theme, officers, and royalty for their 18th Annual Mardi Gras festivities. The grand ball will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Natchez Convention Center.

The theme for the 2019 Mardi Gras season is “Diamonds & Pearls.”

The Krewe of Janus 2018-2019 officers consist of the following, LaRoy Merrick, president; Wynetta Dangerfield, vice-president; Connie Merrick, recording secretary; Fannie Campbell, financial secretary; Barbara N. Johnson, treasurer; Yolanda Cooley, sergeant-at-arms; Arrocus Baskin and Angela Rosell, members-at-large; and Gloria Dangerfield, captain.

The Krewe of Janus 2019 Royalty is as follows:

King Janus XVIII Derek De’Anthony Matthews

King Derek Matthews is the son of Margaret Matthews and Calvin Matthews. He has one son, Daylan Khalil Matthews. He has three sisters, the late Queen Janus XV Shanta Matthews, Mercedes Moffett and Jordan Mazique; three nieces, Zamia, Zoey and Nakhia; two nephews, Malik and Anthony; two god-sisters and one god-brother. 

King Matthews is a 2009 graduate of Natchez High School. He went on to further his education at Alcorn State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in 2014. 

King Matthews has been working for the City of Natchez at the Natchez Police Department for the past two and a half years and most recently enlisted in the United States Army. He is a Fall 2017 initiate of “The Notorious” Natchez Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

King Matthews enjoys spending quality time with close family and friends, shopping, watching sports, riding motorcycles, cooking and eating and building a stronger bond with his son and nieces.

His favorite quote is, “to encourage honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor.”

Queen Janus XVIII JerRees D’Juan Dangerfield

Queen JerRees Dangerfield is the daughter of Gloria and the late Carl Dangerfield. She is the mother to Nayzia and Zachary Jr. She has one sister Wynetta, and three godchildren. 

She is a 2000 graduate of Ferriday High School where she was the head majorette. Queen Dangerfield went on to attend Grambling State University and she obtained an associates of applied science from Our Lady of the Lake College and an associates of science degree in nursing from Northwestern State University. She is currently employed at Rapides Regional Medical Center as an emergency room trauma nurse.

Queen Dangerfield is also employed by the world famous Grambling State University Marching Band and she co-sponsors the Ferriday High School majorettes.

She is a proud member of the St. Mark Baptist Church in Clayton, where she sings in the choir and serves as a youth leader for the dance ministry.

Dangerfield loves to spend time with family and friends, shopping, traveling, watching sports, singing and designing.

She lives by the quote, “Why would I ever participate in the commercial… when I’m the entire show.”

Captain Gloria Wright Dangerfield

Captain Gloria Dangerfield is the fifth child born to Johnnie and Rosie Wright. She was married for 41 years to the late Carl Dangerfield. Captain Dangerfield has two daughters, Wynetta and JerRees; and two grandchildren, Nayzia and Zachery Jr.

She is a 1971 graduate of W.O. Boston High School and a 2003 graduate of Columbia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Captain Dangerfield was employed for 42 years with Concordia Parish School Board and retired in 2016 as assistant director of business affairs.  She also has served as chief financial officer for the Concordia Parish School Employees’ Federal Credit Union since 1985 and as the chairperson of the Ferriday Housing Commission. Captain Dangerfield is a proud member of St. Mark Baptist Church of Clayton, where she serves on the board of directors and as the minister of music. She is also a member of the Vidalia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Her hobbies are traveling, sporting events and singing gospel music. Captain Dangerfield’s favorite scripture is, “And we know that all things work together for good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” — Romans 8:28

Duchess Nicole Davenport

Duchess Nicole Davenport is the proud wife to Clinton Davenport. She is the mother to four amazing children, Courtney, Calvin Jr., Micheal and August, and the proud grandmother to the wonderful Kyren and Kali. Duchess Davenport is a graduate of North Natchez High School and later obtained an associate degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She is the Postmaster of Centreville and has been employed with the United States Postal Service for 15 years, where there motto is “rain, sleet, or snow the mail must go.” She is a member of the United States Postmaster Association.

Duchess Davenport’s hobbies include sewing and shopping. She currently owns and operates a home-based embroidery and screen printing business where she enjoys doing quality work and creating designs that make customers’ ideas come to life.  

Duchess Davenport lives by the motto, “Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books — especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day. We should love neighbors as ourselves, and as a mother my prayer for the young men in my life is to survive because the violence is real.”

Duchess Lisa Turner Harper

Duchess Lisa Harper is a native of Vidalia, and she currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.  She is the darling daughter of Georgia Allen and the late Elam Turner, Jr, and stepdaughter of the late Willie Allen.

She is a graduate of Vidalia High School and later went on to obtain a bachelor of science in computer science and applied mathematics from Alcorn State University. She later received a MBA from Amberton University.

Duchess Harper is an adjunct professor at Morgan State University teaching building and leading successful project teams in the project management master’s program.

She is also a leader in corporate action learning providing individuals with the opportunity to learn about themselves and about their roles in a group through the medium of action learning.

Duchess Harper is a member of Church of the Redeemer, the Project Management Institute, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Order of Eastern Star Prince Hall Affiliation of Louisiana, Rosewood Chapter No. 65 Order of Eastern Star. She loves to laugh and dance.  Duchess Harper’s philosophy is:  I believe that we are our own best teachers because true understanding comes from reflecting on your own experiences.  It is important to know yourself and to seek self-knowledge.

Duchess Margaret Duncan Matthews

Duchess Margaret Matthews is a native of Natchez. She is the daughter of the late Leon Duncan, Sr. and Ethel Baldwin Duncan.  She is the youngest of five siblings. Duchess Matthews is the mother of King Janus XVIII Derek Matthews, Nakesha Watkins and the late Queen Janus XV Shanta Matthews.  She has six grandchildren, Zamia, Zoey, Daylan, Nakhia, Malik and Anthony and three god-children.

Duchess Matthews is a 1980 graduate of North Natchez High School after which she went on to Hinds Community College and received an associate’s degree in child development technology and an associates in arts education-elementary.  She later received her bachelor of science degree in child development from Alcorn State University.

Duchess Matthews is currently employed with AJFC Community Action Agency Inc. as a teacher for Thompson Head Start. She is a member of Beulah Baptist Church where she sings in the choir and serves as the director of the youth department.

Duchess Matthews is a member of Queen Esther No.1, National Coalition of One Hundred Black Women and the Head Start Association.

She enjoys cooking, traveling, shopping and spending time with family and friends.

Duchess Matthew’s favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.”

Duchess Contina Campbell Minor

Duchess Contina Minor was born and raised in Natchez. She is married to Emmett Minor. She is the daughter of Ozella Franklin and Clyde Campbell. She has two sons, Keddrick and Larry, and three daughters, Raven, Emily and Cassidy. She also has two granddaughters, KeNylah and Elyse and one godchild.

Duchess Minor is a proud graduate of the Natchez High School mighty class of 1993. She currently works as a driver for the City of Natchez and she also helps her husband manage Minor Trucking.

Duchess Minor is a member of Forest Aid Baptist Church. She is proud member of Kingdom Family, a married couples Christian group.

Duchess Minor enjoys dancing, tailgating, shopping, traveling and cruising.

She lives by the motto, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”