The Krewe of Mer will celebrate the Mardi Gras season with its annual ball this Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center. The theme will be “Glitz ‘n Glamour on Broadway.”

The ball is the 21st for the krewe. The reign of the 2013 King William Fredrick Marsalis Jr. and Queen Courtney Frazier-Yearby will end, with the crowning of Mer’s 2014 king and queen. The royal court includes:

King Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is a lifetime resident of Natchez. He is the oldest son of Johnnie B. Davis and the late Wardell Hill. He is the grandson of the late Mable Simpson and the late John Davis.

Davis is a 1991 graduate of Natchez High School. After graduation, he joined the 155th Infantry Battalion of Natchez where he dedicated seven years of service.

He is married to Neashion Marie Davis and together they have four children, Deja, TaMaya, Gabriel and Trianthonee. They also have one grandson, Devion.

Davis is a member of St. Peter Baptist Church, the Krewe of Mer and is a Philadelphia Eagles Fan. His hobbies include watching sports, camping and gaming with family and friends.

Queen Neashion Marie Davis

Neashion Davis is a native of Roxie and 14-year resident of Natchez. She is the oldest daughter of Sherry Fells and Eddie C Smith. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Hall Sr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie Smith.

Davis is a 1996 graduate of Franklin High School. She attended Hinds Community College in Raymond and Alcorn State University where she received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in business administration and a Master’s of Science Degree in secondary education/ guidance counseling.

She is employed as a teacher for the Concordia Parish School District in Ferriday.

She is married to Anthony Davis and together they have four children, Gabriel Malik, Trianthonee, Deja and TaMaya. They also have one grandson, Devion.

She is an active member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Order of Eastern Star and the Krewe of Mer.

Her hobbies include shopping, traveling, reading, camping and spending time with family and friends. 

Captain Bettye Bell

A life-long educator, Bettye Bell is the owner of and executive director of B’ Moore & Associates LLC, an educational consulting company. In this position, she serves as consultant and an event planner for various organizations and school districts.

She was founder and executive director of Friends of Youth, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting academic and recreational enrichment activities for young people throughout the state of Mississippi.

She has served as a secondary science teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum specialist, professional development coordinator, instructional improvement coordinator, grant writer, academic science coach, Advanc-ED evaluator and state evaluator. She has received national training as a certified presenter/facilitator from the National Association of Partners in Education.

Bell received a Bachelor of Science in education, a Master’s of Science in science education, both from Alcorn State University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from Mississippi College. She is a member New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated-Zeta Delta Omega Chapter.

One of her greatest joys is being grandmother and scientist to her grandson, Andre Braylen and granddaughter, Peyton Gabrielle.

Co-Captain Gwendolyn M. Ford

Gwendolyn Ford is the daughter of Frances Louise Morris and the late Sidney Russell Morris. She is the mother of Tremaine Lance Ford and the late Jarred Cortez Ford.

She is native of New Orleans. For 33 years she has owned and operated Gwen’s Creative Concept Beauty Salon and Creative Tax Service. She is currently a licensed agent for Union National Life Insurance Company.

She holds licenses in cosmetology after attending Jerome’s School Of Cosmetologist in 1979.

She received her associate degree from Copiah-Lincoln in marketing and business administration. She received her Bachelor of Science in business administration in 2011 from Alcorn State University.

She is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and she sings in Holy Family Gospel Choir. She has been a member of the Krewe of Mer since 2004. Her hobbies are spending time with family, singing, traveling, shopping, reading and dancing.

Duchess Glennesse Smith-Scott

Glennese Smith-Scott is a native of Natchez. She is the middle child of the late Glen Smith Sr. and Mandy Smith. She is the granddughter of the late Henry L. Smith Sr. and the late Thelma W. Smith of Natchez and the late Rev. Godfrey Daniels and Donnie Daniels, both of Itta Bena.

Smith-Scott is the mother of three daughters, Lexus La’Kaytra, Camry Chloé and Layla Londyn. She is currently engaged to Larry Lucas Jr.

She is a graduate of Alcorn State University, where she received a bachelor’s and master’s of science in secondary education/guidance counseling. She is currently a family resource worker/social worker here in Adams County.

Smith-Scott is the author of the book titled “Surviving a Thousand Deaths, the Glennese Smith-Scott Story,” which was published Aug. 16, 2011.

She is an active member of the Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, the NAACP and the National Action Network. Her hobbies are spending time with family, writing, motivating the youth, watching television, shopping, an being an advocate for justice in the community.

Duchess Tangelia Sullivan

Tangela Sullivan is an administrative supervisor at the Adams County Correctional Center. She is a 1999 graduate of Natchez High School, graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and is currently attending Alcorn State University pursuing a career in social work.

She is a member of the Social Work Club at Alcorn State University and a 2013 graduate of Leadership Natchez. She is a member of Greater New Zion Baptist Church and choir member there. Her hobbies and interests include shopping and spending time with friends and family.

She is the wife of Marcus Sullivan; together they have two daughters, Jermia Requel and Markia Synclair.

Duchess Ashley Henry-Walton

Ashley Henry-Walton is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Plevis Brown of Natchez and James Henry of Greenville. She is also the wife of Lawrence Walton and the mother of one son Jordan.

She is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. She is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Greenville and Copiah-Lincoln Community.

She is currently attending Alcorn State University where she is pursuing a degree in accounting. She is employed at United Mississippi Bank as a lending assistant. Her interests are traveling, spending time with family and shopping.

Duchess Kimberly Noel Washington

Kimberly Washington is the administrative controller at Nissan North America and the owner of Noel’s School of Dance.

She is also a graduate of Alcorn State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology health science and a minor in biochemistry. Further studies are being pursued in workforce education leadership at Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University.

Washington is a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Natchez and Relevant Empowerment Church in Jackson.

She sings with the Mississippi Mass Choir. Her hobbies and interest include singing, dancing, traveling and sponsoring the Alcorn State University Golden Girls.