NATCHEZ — The Krewe of Phoenix recently announced its royalty for the 2016 Mardi Gras season.

The krewe will celebrate with its invitation-only king and queen’s ball Dec. 31 at the Natchez Community Center.

The invitation-only call-out ball will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jan. 16 at the Natchez City Auditorium. Non-member tickets are $10.

The Krewe of Phoenix parade will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 5 in downtown Natchez. And the grand ball will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Natchez Convention Center.

The royalty are:

Rosalie XXXIV Laurie Paradise Morgan

Laurie Paradise Morgan, daughter of David and Betty Paradise, is married to Tal Bronson Morgan and is the vice president of Paradise Companies LLC. Soon after graduating from Louisiana State University Medical College, Morgan worked as case manager at Professional Rehab Hospital in Ferriday. Before joining her father at Paradise Companies LLC, Morgan was employed as a controller for a company contracted by FEMA that provided shelter to people who had lost their homes in hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav.

A ninth-generation Natchezian, Morgan enjoys many aspects of small town life such as walking on the bluff, spending time with her family and friends and serving her community. In her long association with the Krewe of Phoenix, Morgan served as the co-chairman of Grand Ball in 2005 and as Duchess Eliza Lowe Little in 2006. In addition to her activities with the Krewe of Phoenix, Morgan is involved with the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. Morgan’s love for her Yorkshire Terrier Maddie Gray sparked her interest in supporting the humane society where served as assistant treasurer for three years. She is currently in her first year of a three-year term as the treasurer.

Rex XXXIV Kevin Preston

Preston is the son of Roy and Delores Preston and is married to Michele Preston. Preston is the founder, owner and president of Magnolia Bluffs Casino. Preston started his gaming career just outside of his hometown of Chicago, with Harrah’s Entertainment where he spent eight years in various management roles. Soon after, he left to become the youngest general manager with Grace Entertainment at casinos in Missouri and Iowa. In 2005, he started a new gaming company called Wild Rose Entertainment with a local Des Moines businessman. After successfully opening and acquiring two gaming properties with Wild Rose Entertainment, Preston sold out and became the COO of Tropicana Entertainment, responsible for the companies 14 gaming properties with casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. In 2008, Preston started Premier Gaming Group and became involved in the Natchez project.

Preston is originally from Chicago and now resides just outside of Cincinatti in Union, Ky. He spends a lot of time traveling as his company continues to grow but really enjoys his time in Natchez. Preston is involved in many charitable organizations and enjoys giving back and helping where necessary.

Preston and his wife Michele have two daughters, Kylee, 14, and Taylor, 11, who will be participating in all the events in between their volleyball and swimming events back home.

Haley Whittington Meng — Duchess La Glorieuse

Born and raised in Natchez, Meng graduated as valedictorian of her class at Cathedral High School and got her Bachelor of Accountancy degree from Ole Miss in 2010. She has worked in the restaurant management industry for two years and the accounting industry for three years, where she is currently working in both the tax and audit departments at The Gillon Group in Natchez.

Meng serves on the executive committee of the Natchez Young Professionals and is a volunteer brewery representative for Natchez Brewing Company. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, music, reading and hanging out with her adopted retired racing greyhound Django.

Kyle Holzhaub — Duke Great Sun

Kyle Holzhaub was born in New Orleans but raised in Vidalia. He graduated from Huntington High School in Ferriday in 2007 and Copiah-Lincoln Community College with a degree in radiology. He has been working as a sales representative at Lakeside Ford for two and a half years. Holzhaub enjoys playing sports, watching LSU football and hanging out with his family and friends. 

Jamie Vetzel Gibson — Duchess Marie Therese

Jamie Vetzel Gibson is a native of Batesville but calls Natchez home. For the past five years, Gibson has taught chemistry and physics at Cathedral High School. She serves as a coach for the Science Olympiad team and as a sponsor for the Science National Honor Society and the Math and Science Competition team. Gibson was named 2015 Star Teacher for Cathedral High School.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University, where she studied animal science. While at MSU, she was a member of the Collegiate Rodeo Team. While in Starkville, Morgan met her husband of 14 years, Britt Gibson, a native of Natchez. Together they have two sons, Ashton, 13, and Aidan, 11.

Gibson is an active member of St. Mary Basilica and a past Krewe of Phoenix board member and served as Call Out Ball co-chairperson and invitations chairperson. She enjoys working out with her husband at Pinnacle Training Center, horseback riding and competing in obstacle course races, including the Warrior Dash and Mud Heights.

John Wesley Smith, M.D. — Duke of Versailles

Smith was born in Monroe, La., and raised in Ferriday. He is a 1999 graduate of Cathedral High School. He spent his college years in Natchitoches, La., at Northwestern State University where he met his wife, Blythe. After attending medical school in Shreveport, La., he and Blythe moved to Louisville, Ky., for his internal medicine/pediatric residency, before moving back south to Natchez.

Smith is currently an emergency room physician at Merit Health River Region hospital in Vicksburg. He has two children, Ty Hite and Magnolia Marie Smith.

Smith is a rabid LSU fan. He enjoys hunting, fishing and bird-watching. Most often, Smith enjoys time at home with his family, watching Trinity football or playing My Little Pony with his daughter.

Melanie Miller Downer — Duchess Panmure

Downer and her family moved to Natchez almost 14 years ago. After living in the Northeast for many years, she longed to be closer to family, friends and her Southern roots.

Since moving to Natchez, Downer has continued to utilize her talent in sales where she is currently a real estate agent with Paul Green and Associates.

She is also an active member of the Pilgrimage Garden Club, volunteering on a multitude of projects promoting Natchez tourism and historic preservation. She attends St. John the Baptist Mission in Cranfield and considers it a little slice of heaven on earth.

Downer is the mom of her two children, Caroline, a student at Rhodes College, and Miller, an honor student at Cathedral High School. She considers them her greatest accomplishment. They continue to inspire her each day with their strong work ethic and their warm, kind hearts.

Drew David — Duke Monfort Browne

Drew David was born and raised in Natchez and graduated from Cathedral High School in 2006. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 2010. He subsequently attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center and graduated from the Master of Occupational Therapy program in 2013. David currently works as an occupational therapist at Key Rehab Associates in Natchez.

He volunteers each year with the Special Olympics and is a member of the Santa Claus Committee. David is a lifelong musician and lends his talents as a vocalist, guitarist and pianist at various musical endeavors, including Speakeasy, a band he co-founded. He is a member of St. Mary Basilica.

Dr. Cathy Miller Ellett — Duchess Marguerite Theresa de Limos

Ellett and her husband Tommy moved from Brookhaven in 2010 to Lake St. John, where they own Ferriday Flying Service Inc. She worked in education for 20 years before retiring from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in 2011.

Ellett holds a doctoral degree from Mississippi State University in educational leadership, is a licensed pilot and a certified scuba diver. She is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Louisiana and National Agricultural Aviation Association. Ellett has two children, Sam and Laura, and daughter-in-law, Jessica. Her son Sam serves as a pilot in the U.S. Air National Guard.

She is also a member and treasurer of New Covenant Presbyterian Church of Natchez.

Al Conn — Duke Manuel Gayosa de Limos

Al Conn was born and raised in Natchez and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990 with a degree in marketing. Conn is married to Mitzi Potts Conn and together they have two sons, Trace and Corey.

Conn is self-employed as a partner in Ketco Advertising and also holds a real estate license with Davis Real Estate. Conn enjoys spending time with his family at Lake St. John, playing golf and hunting with his sons. He is a member of 3-J Ranch Hunting Club, Beau Pré Country Club and is a former board member at Beau Pré. This year, Conn was the Team Carnousitie Captain in the Beau Pré Cup Matches which his team won.

He is a member of Advertising Specialty Institute, Promotional Products Association International, Mississippi Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and of First Baptist Church.

Angela Cotten — Duchess Eliza Lowe Little

Angela Cotten was born and raised in Kilgore, Texas. She received her bachelor of science from Stephen F. Austin University in 1998 and her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2015.

Cotten is the daughter of Charles and Laure Clark and is married to Tee Cotten. They have two children, Caroline and Tripp. Cotten is a teacher and administrative assistant at Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science and Technology. She is a member of the Divine Dixie Divas, Beau Pré Country Club and First Baptist Church in Natchez.

Tim McKnight — Duke of Monmouth

Tim and his wife, Lena, live in Natchez with his stepsons, Hunter and Sterling Yarbrough. He is a member of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, the Trinity Booster Club and attends First Baptist Church. McKnight was born in Shreveport, La., to a U.S. Army family and spent time in various places around the world and the United States prior to settling back in Shreveport.

McKnight has served 24 years in the Louisiana U.S. Army National Guard, holds the rank of master sergeant and currently serves as the operations sergeant major for the Second Squadron 108th Cavalry Regiment in Shreveport. He has served two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005 and 2010. His decorations and awards include two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal with V device for Valor and has been inducted into the Order of Saint George for a distinguished career in the Armor and Cavalry field. McKnight has also recently been selected for and is currently attending the U.S. Army’s Sergeant Major Academy.

McKnight’s free time includes watching his stepsons Hunter and Sterling participate in Trinity football, basketball, cross-country, tennis and baseball. He enjoys adventure racing with his wife, running, kayaking, mountain biking, hunting and camping. In July 2015, McKnight completed the Expedition Alaska Adventure Race along with his wife Lena and stepson Sterling and has plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, with Sterling in summer of 2016.

Madison Johnson Stampley — Duchess Varina Howell Davis

Madison Johnson Stampley is a native of Natchez and graduated from Trinity Episcopal Day School in 2004. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2009.

Stampley is currently employed as a sales representative for Merchants Foodservice and has been with the company since 2010. She has been nominated as district sales representative of the year for the past two years with her company, as well as being a member of the Diamond Club.

She is married to Eric Stampley, and they have one daughter, Ally Reece, who will turn 2 this year. Stampley is the daughter of Butch Johnson and Brenda Floyd, and has one brother, Andrew Johnson.

She is a member of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and cooking.

Joshua Glynn Beach — Duke Jefferson Davis

Josh Glynn Beach spent most of his time growing up between Natchez and Houston, Texas, and graduated from Adams County Christian School in 2000. He is married to Jennifer Scott Beach and they have two sons, Jaxson, 5, and Brandt, 2.

He is the son of Roy and Phyllis Beach of Natchez, and Gail Beach of Dickinson, Texas.

He is the owner/operator of Dirt-Tek Construction, a company he started in 2004. Beach is an avid duck and deer hunter and enjoys playing golf and fishing.