The Krewe of Heart and Soul recently announced its royalty for the 2014 Mardi Gras season.

The krewe was established in 2013 by five founders: Robert L. Gardner Jr., Felicia Bowman, Tera Williams Harris, Christy Bowman and Jeremy Fakes.

The krewe’s grand ball will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center. Tickets are $25.

The royalty are:

Queen Lashinda Nix

Queen Lashinda Nix, 31, is the daughter of Albert and Gloria Nix of Clayton. She is the youngest of three children and was raised in Clayton with her two older sisters Kimelar Nix-Skipper and Schrylean Nix-Duncan.

She attended Ferriday High School, where she was the 1999-2000 homecoming queen. She graduated from Ferriday School with honors and went on to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge. She is currently seeking a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University.

She is employed by the Concordia Parish School Board, where she has been working a paraprofessional for nine years at Ferriday Lower Elementary. She has worked with children ranging from pre-kindergarten to second grade.

She is the mother of one daughter Cle’Onia Cummings, 13, and two sons Jy’Kareyus 8, and La’Kaden 5.

Nix is a member of the Harvest Baptist Church in Ferriday, where she is a member of the Perfecting the Praise Dance Ministry and is also a WIN Ministry mentor. She enjoys helping others in any way possible, and in her leisure time she loves spending time with her children and family, traveling, shopping and just enjoying life.

King Jeremy Fakes

King Jeremy Fakes is the son of Irma Jean Fakes of Natchez and the late Henry “Pot” Woods. He is the grandson of Annie Mae Christmas of Natchez and the late Hattie Robinson Woods and Nathaniel “Suga Doo” Fakes.

Fakes was educated in the Natchez-Adams School District. He graduated with honors from Natchez High School in 2001. He furthered his education at the University of New Orleans and later Alcorn State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in general studies/education.

He was active in many activities and organizations in both high school and college, and he received a number of awards for excellence including being inducted into College National Honor Society and also being selected as “Best Dressed” at Alcorn State University two years in a row.

He plans to attend Jackson State University in spring 2014 to pursue his master’s degree in teaching.

Fakes now resides in Vicksburg. He is employed with the Madison Parish School District in Tallulah, La., as an educator and assistant football and head track coach for Madison Junior High School.

He is also employed with Ameristar Casino as a security officer and also West Gate Funeral Home of Natchez as funeral director.

Fakes is a member of NAACP, Alpha Lamba National Honors Society and Minority Business ORG. He is a member of the Egypt Baptist Church of Natchez, where he serves as president of the choir. He also has a quartet group that originally started out as “The Undertakers” but in recent years changed the name to “Anointed.”

He has traveled all over the United States singing God’s praises on some of the biggest stages with people such as Lee Williams, Harvey Watkins, Doc McKenzie, Marvin Sappp and Rance Allen. He credits his singing to his grandmother, Annie Mae Christmas,

His favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Fakes enjoys traveling, singing, clothes, antique cars, computers, spending time with family and football.

He is a die hard Alcorn and Dallas Cowboys football fan.

Duke Willie J. Wesley Jr

Duke Willie J. Wesley Jr. is a Natchez native. He is the son of Willie Sr. and Diane Wesley. He has three siblings, Cotrell Ragland, Flemeka Woods-Washington and Patrick Wesley. 

He is the proud father of Skylar and Amirrah Wesley.

He is a Natchez High School class of 2004 graduate. He was a member of the Bulldog football team. He received a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Alcorn State University. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and is an advisor for the Sigma Beta Club in Natchez.

He works for the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and attends New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

His hobbies include spending time with family, coaching little league baseball for T M Jennings, hunting and fishing.

Duchess Tonya Taursette “Tonii” Washington

Duchess Tonya Taursette “Tonii” Washington is a lifelong resident of Natchez.

She is the proud mother of two beautiful children, her son, DeShawn V. Griggs and daughter, Kendria L. Washington. She also is godmother to Jaylen Matthews. Washington is the fiancé of Johnny Lemon.

She is a 1988 graduate of South Natchez Adams High School and has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in guidance and secondary education from Alcorn State University.

She will be pursuing her doctorial degree in environmental science in the fall at Jackson State University.

She is employed by the Natchez-Adams School District as a sixth-grade science teacher.

She is a member of the Vidalia Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. She also serves as the chairperson of the Krewe’s Scholarship committee.

Washington has five siblings, Ken Washington, George Phipps, Teresa Richardson, Linda Hughes and Anita Flowers.

Her hobbies include shopping, traveling, helping those in need and most importantly spending time with her family.

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert James Washington of Natchez.

Duchess Tracey Scott Lewis

Duchess Tracey Scott Lewis is the daughter of Freddie Scott Sr. and Leola Scott. Her stepfather is the late Eddie Tolliver III. She is the mother of two sons; Courtland Trent, 25, of Houston, Texas, and Demarco Lamir, 22, of Baton Rouge.

Lewis is a 1986 graduate of Ferriday High School.

After high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where she served as a dental assistant from 1386-1994. It was during this time that her love for traveling evolved.

She received her medical office assistant certification in 1990 from Delta Career College, where she graduated with high honors.

Lewis received her practical nursing license from Shelby M. Jackson Technical Institute 17 years ago.

During these 17 years, she has developed multiple skills and accolades, in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.

She is a member of the Rosehill Baptist Church on Doty Road in Ferriday, where she serves as the church reporter and assistant secretary.

In her leisure time she enjoys shopping, traveling and spending time with family.

Duke John Prosser

Duke John Prosser is the son of Valerie Prosser and John Franklin. He is the youngest of siblings, Treniece Conner and Kenneth Prosser.

He graduated with honors from Ferriday High School where he excelled in academics and enjoyed being a part of the mighty Ferriday High Trojan Band.

Prosser is currently a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, where has been active for almost 11 years. He has also been workingin the offshore industry for seven years. He’s an Masonic Brother of Ferriday Lodge 101.

Between careers (military and offshore) Prosser is the proud father of his only child John Prosser Jr.

Prosser is a member of the Harvest Baptist Church in Ferriday. Traveling, poetry or just enjoying a drink with freinds are just a few of Prosser’s hobbies, but above all spending time with family is what he enjoys the most.

Duchess Treniece Nerecole Conner

Duchess Treniece Nerecole Conner, 37, was born in and currently lives in Ferriday.

She is the daughter of Valerie Ann Prosser and the late Nathaniel Conner.

She is mother of one son, Giavonnie Conner, and two daughters, Giavonn Conner and Na’Trejha Conner. She’s the sister of Kenneth Prosser and John Prosser.

She is a 1994 graduate of Ferriday High School, where she was a member of the famous Ferriday High marching band, led under the direction of the late Carl Dangerfield.

She attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

She has been working for various health care agencies for the past 17 years and is currently employed at All About You Healthcare Sitting Service, as the lead supervisor, and has provided home health care to patients of all age groups.

Conner is a member of the Harvest Baptist Church of Ferriday and an active member of Lucinda Robinson Chapter No. 6 Order of Eastern Star of Kingston.

Her hobbies include talking on the telephone, watching the Saints play, spending time with family and shopping.

Duke Darius Waddell Andrea Davis

Duke Darius Waddell Andrea Davis is the son of Waddell and Laura Thomas and Patricia and Anthony Smooth.

He is a graduate of Natchez High School and a 2011 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

He is currently employed by Belk as a loss prevention associate.

Duke Davis is a member of W.T. Grant No. 2 All Free and Accepted Masons.

He also attended Naval Basic Training where he learned the naval core values of honor, courage and commitment.

In his spare time he enjoys writing music, restoring his car and spending time with family.