The Krewe of Janus has announced its court, officers and theme for the annual 2007 Mardi Gras celebration. Charter members of the Krewe are Barbara N. Johnson, Lisa W. Johnson, Valeria Johnson, Robert Plummer and Pamela B. Plummer.

Officers for 2006-2007 are Wilbur O. Johnson, president; Freddie Woods, vice president; Edith Lewis, secretary; Thelma Chatman, financial secretary; Barbara Johnson, treasurer; N. Jeannette Wilson, assistant secretary; Geraldine Faniel, chaplain; Robert L. Plummer, sergeant-at-arms; Lisa W. Johnson, parliamentarian, and Pamela B. Plummer, captain.

The theme for the 2007 Mardi Gras season is “Janus Touring Africa.”

Members of the royal court are:

Melita Y. Gibbs, Queen Janus VI, is a graduate of Natchez High School. She continued her education at Alcorn State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications. She is employed at Alcorn State University with the English and foreign language department as the Writing Center coordinator. She is the daughter of Mary Ellen Singleton and the stepdaughter of Milton E. Singleton.

Jaworski Tramon Davenport, King Janus VI, is the son of Deborah Davenport and Clinton Brinkley of Fayette. He is a 1996 graduate of Natchez High School. Davenport received a B.A. in sociology/social work from Alcorn State University in 2000. He is employed with the Mississippi Department of Human Services/Family and Children’s Services as a licensed social worker. He is a member of the St. Anne Catholic Church in Fayette, secretary of the Mississippi Rho Epsilon Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a member of Mississippi Conference of Social Welfare.

Duchess Geraldine Faniel is a graduate of Mills College in Oakland, Calif. She received a B.A. degree in child development and a master’s in education. Before returning home to Natchez, she was employed with the Children’s Hospital of Northern California as a Child Life Specialist for over 17 years. She is a member of the Greater Macedonia Baptist Church, where she is active in choir, Sunday school, Bible study and mission. She is a member of the NAACP, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Literary Club, the National Council of Negro Women, and Sister-to-Sister group. She has one daughter and one granddaughter.

Duchess Barbara Johnson is a native of Ferriday. She is the daughter of the late Leon and Mary Tennessee. She is a graduate of Ferriday High School and attended Merritt College in Oakland, Calif. She is a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church where she sings in the gospel choir and “Southern Road to Freedom.” She is a member of the Sister-to-Sister Group and the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary. She is a charter member of the Krewe of Janus and is emloyed by Concordia Bank & Trust Company. She is married to Wilbur O. Johnson Sr. and they have four children and four grandchildren.

Duchess Thelma R. Barnes Chatman is financial secretary for the krewe.

Janus is a native of Natchez, MS. She is the daughter of Willie and Juanita King and Dan Whitley and stepdaughter of Lula Whitley. Thelma has three children, William Keith Barnes, Jessica Shakeyla Chatman, and Albert Burnell Chatman, Jr. She is a graduate of South Natchez High School, and Alcorn State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree, and further studies at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Thelma is employed at Alcorn State University in the Office of Fiscal Affairs as assistant purchasing agent. She is a member of the Mississippi Association of Government Purchasing Agents. She is a member of the Zion Hill Baptist Church and services as vice president of the usher board. Thelma is also a member of the Adah Grand Chapter of the Eastern Stars.

Duchess Lisa W. Johnson is the daughter of Wilbur and Barbara Johnson and the late Mary Helen Johnson. She received her B. S. degree from Grambling State University and master’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge. Lisa is a speech pathologist employed by the Natchez Adams School District. She attends Holy Family Catholic Church, president of the Holy Family Catholic Church Gospel Choir, a charting member and Faithful Captain of the Hattie R. Marshall and Sister Edith Brinkley Ladies of Grace Chapter #44, Grand Lady of the Knights of Peter Claver Father Morrisey Court No. 9, a Eucharistic minister, and vice-president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Vidalia Alumnae Chapter. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Association of Educators and the Natchez Preservation Commission.

Pamela Baldwin Plummer, a charter member and former secretary of the Krewe of Janus and serves as Captain for 2007 Mardi Gras Season. She is a native of Natchez and the daughter of the late Jimmy and Frances Baldwin. She is married to Robert L. Plummer, Sr., and they have four children: Tonya P. Galtney, Robert L. Plummer, Jr., Darren J. Plummer, and Tiffany P. Williams, two son-in-laws, Benjamin Galtney and Vernon R. Williams, and one granddaughter Sydney Nicole Galtney. Pamela attended Natchez High School and Alcorn State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. She is currently enrolled in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She is employed as Director of the Harriette Person Memorial Library, Port Gibson, Mississippi. She is a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, secretary of the Holy Family Gospel Choir, a member of the Southern Road to Freedom Choir, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Mississippi Library Association, and Library & Information Science Students Association.