Special to The Democrat

NATCHEZ — The Krewe of Janus has announced its 2013 theme, officers and royalty for its annual Mardi Gras celebration.

The grand ball will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center.

Charter members are Barbara N. Johnson, Lisa W. Johnson, Valeria Johnson, Pamela B. Plummer and Robert L. Plummer Sr.

The theme for the 2013 Mardi Gras season is “A Night of Love, Peace and Soul.”

The Krewe of Janus 2012-2013 officers are: Wilbur O. Johnson Sr., president; Georganna Berry, vice-president; Frances Bailey, recording secretary; Fannie Campbell, financial secretary; Barbara N. Johnson, treasurer; Freddie Woods, sergeant-at-arms; LaWanda Baskin and Charles Wilson, members-at-large; Gloria Dangerfield, chaplin; LaRoy Merrick, parliamentarian and Connie Merrick, captain.

The Krewe of Janus 2013 royalty is as follows:

King Janus XII, LaRoy D. Merrick

LaRoy Merrick was born in Natchez 1982. He is the son of Captain Connie Merrick and Theodore Merrick.

Merrick has one brother, Duke DaMorris Merrick Sr. and two godchildren Ariyanna Bell and Markee Bell Jr.

Merrick grew up in the Natchez-Adams School District and graduated from Natchez High School in 2000. After high school, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a bachelor of science in business administration with an emphasis in finance in 2004.

He moved to Louisiana shortly after graduation to work for Whitney National Bank. While there he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Merrick moved back to Hattiesburg and enrolled in a master’s program. Just a month ago, he received a master’s in education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He is currently employed at Northwest Jackson IB World Middle School.

He is a member of Anderson United Methodist Church. Merrick enjoys shopping, reading and spending time with his family and friends.

He has aspirations of obtaining a doctoral degree in education. Merrick tries to live his life thinking whatever God is putting him through today is preparing him to be greater tomorrow.

Queen Janus XII, Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson was born in Natchez on Halloween in 1981.

She is the proud parent of 4-year-old daughter, Delaney Gabrielle. Johnson is the daughter of Mary L. Henderson and the late Robert Legs Henderson Sr. and Andrew Johnson.

She has three sisters Nickie Mosby, Wanda Harris and the late Evette Henderson and two brothers Robert Henderson III and Joseph Henderson.

She is a graduate of Natchez High School class of 2000, it was here that she developed her love for health and human sciences while a member H.O.S.A.

She received her bachelor’s in nursing from Alcorn State University in 2006. She left her family and friends shortly after graduation to work at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Ariz., as a chemotherapy and dialysis nurse on the oncology/renal floor.

In 2007, Johnson returned to Natchez to work at Natchez Community Hospital where she is currently employed as a registered nurse.

Johnson is currently enrolled in the master’s of nursing program at Alcorn State University working toward a degree as a nurse educator.

Johnson attends Fourth Street Church of Christ where she enjoys fellowship with her life group members. She is also a registered volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America. In the summer of 2012 Johnson changed her life by becoming a member of Team Fit Natchez.

She enjoys working out and helping others to achieve their fitness goals. Johnson has had a lifelong passion for reading and it is her favorite pastime in addition to traveling and shopping. Johnson is a self-proclaimed fashion and food connoisseur.

Her plans for the future include traveling with her daughter to fulfill her own childhood wishes of seeing the world. Johnson will also continue add to her extensive wardrobe in the process.

Captain Connie Merrick

Connie Merrick was born in Natchez and is the daughter of the late Anna and Jessie Miller and Joyce and the late John “Big Red” Brown.

She has seven siblings and two children King Janus XII LaRoy Merrick and Duke DaMorris Merrick Sr. She also has one daughter-in-law Eugenia, three grandchildren JaQuan, DaMorris Jr. and Kaydance Merrick, and three godchildren Everett Sanders, Kimberly Bell and Earl Gordon Jr.

She is currently employed with Natchez Community Hospital and Reeves Drug Store as a certified pharmacy technician.

Merrick is an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church where she serves as an usher. In her spare time she enjoys shopping, dancing, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Merrick lives her life knowing God has truly blessed her through all of her trials and tribulations. And through her experiences God has allowed her to reach out to help others.

Duchess Gloria W. Dangerfield

Gloria Dangerfield is a resident of Ferriday. She is the daughter of Johnnie and Rosie Wright.

She is the mother of two daughters, Wynetta and JerRees and the proud and devoted grandmother of Nayzja and Zachary.

She has been employed by Concordia Parish School Board for 39 years and is currently the assistant director of business affairs and office manager.

She has also been employed by Concordia Parish School Employees’ Federal Credit Union for 28 years as the chief financial officer. She serves as a commissioner for the Ferriday Housing Authority.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and also State of Louisiana business manager certification.

Dangerfield is a member of the St. Mark Baptist Church of Clayton, where she serves as minister of music. Because of her love of gospel music and love of people she is the choir director for the Miss-Lou Fellowship Choir and has directed and sang with a number of choirs in the Miss-Lou especially children’s choirs.

Her hobbies are singing and listening to gospel music, shopping and traveling. Dangerfield also owns and operate G’s HiStyle, a clothing business for women and men.

Duchess Rochelle Rena Green

Rochelle Rena Green, is the daughter of Stella Johnson and the late Rev. Duncan A. Green Jr. and Georgia Green. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, Savannah Faith and Leah Fallon.

Green has been a registered nurse for more than 12 years, licensed in Mississippi and Georgia. She is currently employed as the Health Specialist for the Head Start program at AJFC Community Action Agency Inc.

She has a bachelor of science degree in biology from Jackson State University, a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Armstrong State University in Savannah, Ga., and a master’s of public health from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Green enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading philosophical literature, watching action, suspense and comedic movies and listening to all genres of music. She is a member of Girl Scouts of America, Troop No. 5559 and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Her philosophy of life is that everything happens for a reason, every encounter has a purpose for the different pathways of our journey; God is the pilot and we are His co-pilots.

Duke DaMorris Merrick Sr.

Merrick is a native of Natchez. He is married to Eugenia Merrick and they have three children Jaquan, DaMorris Jr. and Kaydence.

He is the son of Captain Connie Merrick and Theordore Merrick. He is also the brother of King LaRoy Merrick.

He is a 2004 graduate of Natchez High School and currently resides in Hattiesburg, where he is a proud employee of Coca-Cola.

Merrick is a member of the Real Life Church in Hattiesburg.

He enjoys playing and watching sports, hanging out with friends, spending time with family and collecting Jordan’s.

He enjoys coaching his kids in baseball and basketball.